Disclaimer: I own nothing it's all Stephanie Meyer I also don't own BONES
Chapter 11 Friendly Waters
The next two weeks were filled with Edward, I would go to school then work my shift at Newton's and afterwards I would go to his place, we would sit at his dining room table each with our heads buried in a book me for school work and him for research. We would take turns cooking dinner and afterward watching TV or a movie. We had discovered that we both liked to watch BONES and since I had all six seasons on DVD I brought them over and we started watching an episode a night. It had started the following Saturday when my mom called me at work to tell me that I was on my own for dinner because dad was working, Seth had a belt test and mom and the girls were going to cheer him on. So I called Edward and invited him out to eat but he was busy.
"Sorry Irish I just got a new medical journal in that I have to look at."
"Oh Ok that's cool"
"Hey why don't you come over I have to eat right, the front door will be open just come on in"
"You sure it won't be too much trouble"
"Na it's cool"
So I did, when I got there Edward didn't even look up. I went though his pantry and found the makings for spaghetti, so I made that for us. Even the smell of food did not make him look up it was so cute my 'player' had turned out to be a book worm.
It wasn't until I set a plate of food in front of him that he even noticed I was there.
"Bella when did you get here?" he asked looking at me kind of cross eyed.
"Um about an hour ago, eat." I said bemused
"Oh darn I was going to cook you dinner I'm so sorry Bella"
"It's Ok hope you like it"
After he had finished eating he kept stealing glances at the journal he had put down to eat, "Go ahead and get back to it Edward I don't mind in fact I think I'll catch up on some homework I have"
I went to get my book bag from my truck and sat across from him for the rest of the night.
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"Mom I don't think he actually eats regularly he didn't even notice I was there until I set the plate in front of him."
"So what are your plans?"
"I guess I can stop in on him on my way home from work and check that he has dinner. You know how I worry for my friends"
"I know you do honey, why you don't invite him here on Fridays"
Fridays were the only day out of the week that we all sat down together as a family for dinner with the exception of my dad and me sometimes.
"Good idea mom thanks"
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So with the exception of Fridays Edward and I spent every evening at his place, Edward also joined my family for Mass on Sundays when we found out that we went to the same church just different services. I would ride with my parents to church before the service and leave with Edward; he would then take me home at the end of the day.
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It was Thursday and we were on his couch watching BONES I was sitting upright, Edward had his head on my lap I was running my fingers through his hair he had, had a long day and he told me that this relaxed him. I had to ask him something and I was nervous not that I had any reason to be he never said no to me.
"Edward"
"Humm" he sighed
"I was wondering… Well you see once a month my friends and I get together we go out to eat, then catch a movie or go out to a club they drink I'm the designated driver we borrow Jessica's moms SUV and I cart their drunken butts home. It's great fun."
"Anyways we're getting together this Sunday for dinner and a movie and I was wonder-" he cut me off
"Wondering if I would like to go along"
"Yeah" I said smiling
"I sure would, I'd like to meet your friends"
"Cool" I said
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The next day after having dinner with my family sans my dad, he was at work, we went outside to sit in the back yard the girls played on their trampoline and Seth was working under the hood of an old 69 Camaro. Mom was inside resting after the long day she had had. Edward and I were on a bench under a canopy talking, this time he was sitting upright. I was laying down only my head was on the arm rest, my feet were in his lap, he had his hand on my shin and on occasion he would run it to my knee tap it with his fingers then run it back to my ankle. We were talking
"Tell me more about them" he said mentioning to Seth, Leah and Claire.
"Well Seth just turned 16 he and dad are fixing that car up for him to drive; he knows his stuff so he can work on it while dad's not here. I on the other hand had to wait for dad to come home from work in order to work on the truck"
"So your dad and you fixed the truck together"
"Yup it's our sweet 16 birthday present he plans to do the same with Leah and Claire"
"That's real cool of your dad; he sounds like a great guy." He took his hand off my shin and grabbed my hand interlacing our fingers together.
"He is, anyways Seth doesn't have many friends kids want friends without baggage. Ugh I wish we could move somewhere where people won't know that they're foster kids where he can be himself. You know what I mean."
He nodded, he gave may hand a squeeze.
"He's a Black belt in tae kwon do," I said with a smile
Edward jokingly gulped I giggled.
"Leah and Claire just started; according to my mom they're pretty good."
"And you are you any good?"
"Me? No defiantly not, I'm clumsy dad put me in self defense, so I can defend myself but nothing that requires grace and poise."
"You don't seem very clumsy to me."
"Well I've out grown most of it, but on occasion you'll see me flying by or tripping on invisible holes in the ground" I laughed at him
He smiled at me; his eyes caught and held mine captive as much as I wanted I could not look away. The funny thing was I think he was just as caught as I was.
We stared at each other for what seemed an eternity that went by faster than the flapping of a humming bird's wings.
"Hey Edward look at me" Claire called out before doing a flip on the trampoline. Effectively breaking the trans we were under. We turned back to them.
"She's not shy is she?" he asked
"Not at all, she's 5 and an all around little princess. Leah on the other hand only talks when she had something to say which was real surprising that she actually talked to you during dinner not only tonight but that first time. When they got home she went straight to the computer and looked up Oncology. Mom says that she has it on the brain"
"Huh guess I have to brush up so I can answer any questions she might have."
"How old is Leah?" he asked
"She just turned 9"
"How long have they lived with your family?"
"Three years were pretty much the only family Claire remembers that's why it's so easy on her"
We sat there chatting for a while longer I must have fallen asleep.
I was awoken by Seth's and Edward's combined laughter, I smiled Edward was a good man. I knew he was tired from work and yet there he was with my brother asking him questions making Seth feel important. My heart thumped in my chest, and again I felt like I was missing a…a link.
I walked over to them, when Edward saw me coming he said "Hey sleeping Beauty"
I blushed but said, "Hey Prince Charming"
He laughed, Seth snorted, I jabbed Seth in the ribs and Edward reached for my hand and said "I should get going you want to walk me to my car".
When we got there I turned to him and smiled at him, this was going to hurt me more than it would him.
"Hey Edward your cupboards are bare so you need to go grocery shopping soon."
"Ugh I hate shopping"
"Me to but being that I'm such a great friend I'll go with you tomorrow after my shift at Newton's"
"Thanks Bella! You are awesome." He said before kissing my cheek. He jumped in his car and drove away.
"Bella can you come in here a moment" Dad called, he had come home a few minutes before Edward had gone home.
"Sure dad what's up?"
"You sure have been spending lots of time with this Edward fella"
"Dad we're just friends I promise"
"Yeah well just friends don't kiss each other on the check when they say goodbye"
"Charlie Swan were you spying on me" I said with a mock glare
He blushed, "yeah well it's still my house. I got you something I want you to promise to use it if you need it" he said handing me a can of pepper spray
"Gee thanks dad you shouldn't have."
"Yeah I should have in fact I should have a long time ago when you first started to see him"
"Dad, Edward's not like that he's a gentleman"
"That's for sure he's better than that Newton fellow I'll tell you that much"
"Dad there's nothing wrong with Mike, he's cool"
"Now there isn't you will never know the sigh of relief I felt when he married Jessica"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing Bella I'm tired I'm going to bed"
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Since it was the night of our group date instead of hanging out with Edward, I went home with my family after Mass to give Edward a chance to do his book thing and me a chance to dress up. We, us girls, always dolled up for this because it was only once a month and we liked to look like girls. I put on a dark blue sun dress that came down mid thigh I showed a little more skin than I wanted so I also wore my jean jacket with it. I've never been a huge fan of a lot of makeup so mascara and eyeliner were all I was going to use but I heard Jess in the background guiltng me in to using some eye shadow so a light dusting of gray it was.
When I picked up Edward he looked as bad as he had the night he meet my parents, "Edward are you ok?"
"Meeting your friends is big Bella"
"Not as big as meeting my Parents and you survived that."
"I did and on the bright side none of your friends are gun toting cops right?"
"No, so relax," I said
"Right. Only thing is you parents know, think we're just friend."
I smothered a laugh debating on whether telling Edward that my father had given me a can of pepper spray to use on him if he so much looked at me with evil intentions.
"Where as you're introducing me as your boyfriend to them Right?" he said checking that we were still on the same page.
"Yup" I said "but they're happy for me" at least the girls were Mike was a different story
He was protective of me, like an older brother. I hoped that everything went right tonight. I really wanted my 'old' best guy friend to like my 'new' best guy friend
When we got to the restaurant Jess and Angie came out to greet me I took Sara Lynn out of her arms saying "There's my baby I've missed you Angel Girl"
I gave Jessica a one armed hug and said "Oh it's so good to see you, where's Mike?" she stiffened and rolled her eyes "What's wrong? I can ring his neck if you want me to."
I went to give Angela a hug also.
"No its fine He's just being Mike you know, are you going to introduce us?"
"But of course Jessica, Angela this is my boyfriend Edward"
I turned to Edward and said "Darlin this here is my Baby Sara Lynn I don't care what the world might say she is mine and that's all that matters, and this are two of my best girl friends Angela and my Baby mama Jessica" he chucked I threw a saucy smile towards Jessica to let her know I was joking when I noticed that she had a tight look on her face, Mike had come out of the restaurant and he did not look happy. I felt Edward stiffen behind me I heard two words that confused the heck out of me
"Cullen" with a growl
"Newton" with a sigh of resignation.