A/N: I'm baaaaack. For good, promise.
Dismantle and Repair will be updated every Monday. Usually it will be on later, but I've had this chapter written for a long while and technically it is Monday in my time. Check my profile if you forget and for more info on my other fics.
Enjoy this chapter! And as usual - if you like it or have thoughts/comments/suggestions, review! :)
"Say it again!" Edward exclaimed against my neck, his breath hot and his lips attacking my neck.
"Edward, I've already said it twenty times!" I squealed.
"But I want to hear you say it over and over again. Until the whole universe knows." He said, continuing his wet kisses.
"You're so funny and not to mention cute right now."
"I'm cute?" He pulled back, wiggling his eyebrows.
"You know you are, so stop looking for things to boost your ego!" I laughed, smacking his shoulder.
"Ow!" he said, laughing and feigning hurt. "That hurt."
"Aw, the poor baby." I said, smirking.
"You know what would make the pain go away?" he asked like it was a real question.
"Fine. But I'll only say it one more time and that's it." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Yes!" He pumped his arm in the air and rested his elbows on my stomach.
"I was jealous that another girl possibly had the ability to steal you away from me." I sighed.
"See, was that so hard?" he asked, leaning up to kiss me softly on the lips.
"Yes! It's humiliating. We've already confirmed the fact I was jealous. No need to make you so big headed."
"You wound me, Bella. You truly do. All I want is love and you're making me feel bad about myself." He pouted with wide eyes like a dog that had just been denied an extra plate of food.
"Oh, Edward," I laughed, pushing him against the cushions of the couch. "That pout will most certainly get you everywhere."
I was just about to kiss him on the lips again, when my cell phone ringing interrupted me.
Edward leaned back, groaning, which made me laugh. And that earned a full on glare at me.
"Chill out, Edward. It's probably just Alice, making sure I'm actually getting fed in this place." I sighed, grabbing my cell phone off of the table.
"Oh, great," I muttered, checking the caller ID. Just what I needed.
"What is it?" Edward asked, stroking my arm reassuringly.
"My Mom.." I muttered and then finally picked up. "Hello?"
"Bella! Finally you picked up, I haven't spoken to you in so long!"
"Sorry, Mom. I've been kind of busy." I said, sitting back in the cushions of the sofa.
"Busy? Busy with who?" Renee asked, sounding a little too curious.
"No one, Mom." I lied. "It's just somebody broke into mine and Alice's apartment, they took everything we owned. So, I'm in a temporary place at the moment."
"Oh, Bella! Why didn't you say something? You know Phil and I would have lent you some money. Bought you a new apartment, even!"
"Mom. It's okay, really. It's no big deal. You guys already did enough for me in high school. I'm okay, really. Once I find a good, secure apartment, then I'll be fine. Anyways, what's the real reason for you calling? I trust this isn't just to check up on how I'm doing." I said, knowing how Renee was always up to something and this would be no different.
"Well, Bella. You know how your birthday is coming up in a few weeks.." Renee hinted.
"Mom!" I groaned. "I've told you time and time again, I don't want to discuss birthday plans. I just want to pass it off as another day." I said, shooting a look at Edward who had peaked an interest in the conversation as soon as the word 'birthday' was mentioned. Great.
"But Bella! It's your birthday! And you're going to be turning twenty one! That doesn't happen every day. If you're not going out with friends, then I'm coming up there and making sure you're having a good time!"
"Mom! You don't need to come up here! If I promise to go out with my friends, then will you just stop talking about this?" I asked, rubbing my forehead.
"That's all I ask." Renee said, satisfied. I could just feel her smirking on the other side of the phone.
"So, tell me what else is going on down in the green land. How's school? Have you been seeing any cute guys?" she sang.
"Well.. there is one guy. I'm actually staying at his place. He has an extra room and he offered for me to stay as long as I need to."
"Bella! You didn't tell me that you were seeing a guy, let alone staying at his place! Tell me, what is he like? I trust that you two are being safe."
"Mom! I'm so not having this conversation with you right now!" I screamed down the phone.
"Oh come on, Bella. Phil is always away. I need some dirty details."
"Oh, what's that? Oh, dinner's ready! Okay, bye Mom! Love you!" I said and quickly hung up the phone, sighing.
Edward was laughing beside me, clearing understand what gist of the conversation about at the end.
"Shut up, Edward." I sighed, not ready to put up with his teasing.
"Oh, come on, Bella," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me back into his chest. "You have to admit it was funny."
"To you, maybe." I muttered as he kissed my temple, attempting to calm me down.
"It was. And now onto more important matters.."
"Important matters? What, pray tell, might those be?" I asked, interested.
"Your birthday, for one."
I sprung up from his chest then. "No, Edward. No, no and no. We are not doing anything for my birthday and that is it. I never celebrate my birthday and this year isn't changing anything."
"Please, Bella? Why not? I'm sure Emmett, Jasper, Alice and Rose wouldn't mind celebrating it with us. I'm pretty sure they would love it, actually."
"Edward, please. I hate my birthday's. I don't want all the attention to be focused on me and I specifically don't want people spending money on any presents, especially for me. Can't you please just forget this one day?"
"Bella, you're turning twenty one. You need to celebrate it. After all, I never got to celebrate my twenty first. We could have a joint birthday! How about that?" he bargained, trying to get me to give in. And I had to admit, I was beginning to cave.
"Fine." I sighed. "It would be better to not have all the attention on me. And it would be nice to be able to celebrate your late twenty first with you." I smiled at the thought, then my mind began wandering. "Hey, Edward. What did you do for your twenty first?"
He made a face, obviously not wanting to think about it. "I locked myself in my room the whole time. I just lay in bed, waiting for the day to pass." he sighed sadly.
"I'm sorry, Edward," I said, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "I wish I could have met you back then and celebrated with you. Whether I was legal or not. But if it makes you feel any better, I haven't had a proper birthday party since I was ten."
"Really? Why not?"
"Well, because I never really had any friends in high school. And when I would invite them 'round to my place to do something, they would always back out and just not show up." I sighed.
"I'm sorry." he said, kissing my shoulder lovingly.
"It's okay, it's all in the past now." I shrugged, leaning back into his embrace again.
"I wish I could be as strong as you are, Bella. If I was, I would've gone into.." he trailed off.
"Gone into what?" I asked, turning my head up at his.
"Oh, um. Just gone in a better direction." He chuckled nervously.
"Oh. Well, it's all in the past, like I said. It's better to live in the present."
"You're right," He said, kissing my forehead. "And speaking of the present, maybe we should talk about presents." He grinned mischieviously.
"Oh, shut up, Edward. No presents."
"Well, what if the present costs no money? Would I be allowed to give it to you then?" he offered.
"Maybe. As long as it isn't something I could easily break."
Edward laughed. "Pro-Klutz present, got it."
"What about you? Do you have an strong distaste for presents and such?" I asked curiously. If he was anything like me, then I was screwed. It was one thing for me to dislike being given gifts, but if it was Edward? Then our friends were screwed. Including myself. I admit, I'm a hypocrite. Even if I don't like being given gifts, I wanted to give one to Edward.
"Nope. I'd prefer for you not to buy me anything at all, with everything you've given me already. But if you must, then go ahead."
"What do you mean, 'with everything you've given me already'? I haven't bought you anything." I said, confused.
"Silly, Bella," He chuckled, kissing my ear lobe. "You've given me you."