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The next day I decided to continue with my daily routine but they wouldn't let me come back to work yet, so I hung out with Angela at the coffee house all day. I told her about the way Edward acted last night and she had her own more logical theory,
"Maybe he was trying to protect you." I looked at her like she was crazy. "Its true look," she pulled out a bunch of tabloids, "see these people take pictures and make up stories. If they would have seen him putting you in a cab outside of his hotel both of you drunk…" I nodded I already knew exactly where she was headed.
There was a cup of coffee placed in front of me; I looked over my shoulder and saw Jess, Angela's boyfriend. "You two ladies are over looking another very logical explanation," Ang looked at him and waited for his theory, "well maybe he wasn't capable of walking, if you know what I mean." She threw an empty creamer at him. "What? It's possible." I shook my head, "As embarrassing as it is to admit, he has a point. I just didn't need him to point it out."
A man carrying flowers walked in the café headed towards Mike at the counter. He pointed a finger at me and the guy headed over, "Ms. Swan?" I nodded and took the flowers. I tried to give him a tip, "No, thank you it has been taken care of." He smiled and walked away. It was the most beautiful bouquet of multicolored daisies I have ever seen. I grabbed the card: Hope the hangover isn't too bad, wear your second gift to Central Park at 6 tonight. "Who the hell sent them?" Ang threw another creamer at Jess's head. Then it hit me 'second gift', I shot a look up at Ang and we both ran out towards my apartment.
When we reached the door taped to it was a mint green envelope with 2nd written across it. I opened it and there was a note and a red card: Take this card to Macy's and ask for Emily she will know what to get you. I stood there in shock, what the hell was going on. "Can I please come with you?" I nodded at Ang as she dragged me back out to the street and waved down a cab. It wasn't hard to find Emily once we got there since she was the manager.
She appraised me and handed me a dress to try on. It was a perfect fit. "Mr. Cullen instructed us that this is the only dress you were allowed to pick, however the jewelry selection is up to you." The dress was a lacey white sundress with a green band around the waist. I didn't even bother to look at the price tag because I would have just died.
She guided me over to the jewelry counter and pulled out several different selections. The one that caught my eye wasn't pulled out, "Emily, do I have to pick one of these or can it be a different one?" She looked disappointed that she hadn't picked the one I liked but smiled, "Anything you want of course." Ang and I both pointed at the Jadeite green necklace and bracelet pair; it would go good with the green ribbon. She pulled it out and reached back and placed matching earrings with them, "Actually I don't need the earrings, they aren't pierced." I thought her eyes were going to pop right out at hearing that my ears weren't pierced.
Finally we escaped Macy's with just enough time for me to get ready. I had to shower, do my hair and makeup along with get dressed. I straightened my long hair and wore it down. I put the dress and jewelry on and switched to a small silver purse quickly. I had 15 minutes to get to the park so I hopped on the subway.
When I got there I looked around and found Edward in a black suit with a white button down shirt and black tie. He was sitting at the same bench as I was the night Nathaniel stood me up, not that he would know that. "So, what is the occasion?" He ran a nervous hand through his hair. "You'll see. Shall we?" He stretched out his arm which I took as we headed towards Times Square.
We walked around Time Square where I thought he would have wanted to avoid. On Time Square you have all the news buildings and there are always cameras around. "Edward why are we here?" He bowed his head, "Well after you being caught with me at the movies a few rumors have bloomed. M father is concerned about my image. I expressed that my image doesn't matter to me, but I am worried about what the rumors are saying about you." He genuinely looked concerned.
"He set up a meeting for me tomorrow morning to explain our situation to some interviewers. I thought if there were photos of us I might seem more convincing. They only have picture from the ambulance and the movies. The most recent one they have is of us going into the hotel last night. I never should have slipped like that." It all seemed to make sense now, why he was so weird last night when I left his room. Ang was right all along, "So we are just going to walk around hoping people will take pictures of us."
That seemed like a dumb plan to me. "Well I am somewhat famous it shouldn't be too hard." I laughed because he did have a point. "Ok you're vain! By the way what is the deal with the dress?" He clenched his jaw and growled, "I am seriously going to kill her if she doesn't butt out. Tell me what happened." I told him all about the cards and the gifts.
When I was finished he was really red in the face. "I am so sorry. My mother is weird and likes to control this kind of shit. She must have put this together after I told her what I was going to do to shut dad up." I smiled, "It's ok but for what its worth she has good taste in clothes." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "I don't know about that but it sure looks good on you." Then we walked down the street and back up the other side.
After about an hour we stopped at a restaurant to eat dinner. When we came back out there were cameras everywhere and the flashing was non-stop. They were yelling a million questions at both of us and I just stood there being quiet following Edwards lead.
We got a cab back to my apartment and he walked me to the door sending the cab away. "Well that was fun; I never went out on a date just to get people to take pictures of me. I do have a question to ask." He titled his head and looked at me, "If you didn't send the gifts how did you know to meet me at the park?" I waited for an answer and he finally gave me one, "Ok time to come clean. I did send the flowers but I didn't have anything to do with the dress." I took his hand in mine, "I guess it is good that I liked the flowers better."
It was now really dark outside and it was getting cold. "I guess I need to go back to my hotel and get ready for tomorrow." He stood and started to walk away and I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to me and kissed him. "I had I a good time tonight." He kissed me one last time and then sighed as he walked away. I watched him walk away until he turned the corner and then I went into my apartment.
The next morning I was drinking my coffee and reading the paper when Ang turned the volume up on the TV in the coffee shop. "OMG Bella look it's a picture of you!" I dropped the paper and there was Edward on Regis and Kelly running a nervous hand through his hair. "So, Edward are the rumors true about you and this new mystery girl?" Regis asked causing Edward to chuckled, "Well that depends on which rumors you are talking about. Yes I have gone out on dates with her and yes I would like to continue going out on dates, but no she did not faint at the mere sight of me." Kelly smiled and asked, "Well what can you tell us about her?" He looked right into the camera, "I can tell you that her name is Bella and that she is unlike anyone I have ever met and I have met a lot of people from a lot of places."
The show went to commercials and Ang turned it back down, "So how does it feel to be the talk of Hollywood?" I rolled my eyes at her, "He told me about this last night and its one talk show. Well as much as I like sitting here talking to you I am going to force them to let me work. See you later."
I walked down the street to the theatre and as I opened the door I got a text message where you at. It was from Edward I sent him one back I am getting back to work. Call me later. When I got to my office Tyler was there with Eric the owner of the theatre, "Eric if you want good results from the shows then you need to get me a better budget. If the acting is better than more people will actually pay to see the shows." Eric just waited for Tyler to stop yelling. "Ok we can discuss this later, Bella what are you doing back here?"
I walked over to my desk and sat behind it, "I am ready to work again, unless you replaced me already." Tyler laughed, "Like he could find someone as good as you who puts up with all his shit; we aren't done here," then he left.
Eric rolled his eyes, "I appreciate you wanting to get back to work but I really don't have anything for you to do today but you can come back tomorrow. By then I should be able to get you a better estimate of how many people will be in the next play." It hit me then what they were yelling about when I came in, "So Tyler wants somebody with a big name to be in the play?" All he did was nod, "And he expects me to pull the money out of thin air to pay this person." He smiled as he left.
I grabbed my phone and called Edward, "Hey, they won't let me start working until tomorrow, so you got any plans today?" "Not yet, but I think you might change that." "Well Edward I was thinking we could watch you on the TV over and over and over again because you looked nervous as hell. Just kidding, I do have something I would like to show you but it has to wait until dark so can you meet me at my place around 8:30?" "Well I guess I can but if I go missing they will be asking you questions." "Very funny see you at 8:30."
I grabbed my stuff and ran to Victoria's house. "Hey girl long time no see." "Yeah I know Victoria it has been awhile. I was wondering have and James done any work at the bridge lately?" She smiled and pulled out a notebook, "Yeah this is the best picture of it and thankfully no ones painted over it yet. Why?" I tried to hide the smile that was crossing my mouth but couldn't, "I want to show somebody how beautiful your work is, and my little picture that is at the bar." I ate lunch with Victoria and then went to my apartment to wait for Edward, by the time I got there and got dressed it was already 8:15 and I heard a knock on the door.
Edward's eyes got huge when he saw me standing in the door way wearing a purple and black plaid mini skirt and a Tripp black zipper corset vest. "Ok so put your eyes back in your head. We got stuff to see before we meet up with Victoria." I dragged him by the arm to a bridge with almost no light near it. I pulled a flashlight out of my purse and pointed up from the underside of the bridge. "This big collage was done by my friend Victoria and her boyfriend. I wasn't here when they painted this one but I thought you might like it."
We stood there and looked at the graffiti for about five minutes. I finally got impatient and dragged him two a club two blocks away. Once we got to Graffiti we met up with Victoria. "Edward this is Victoria this is Edward, and if you ask for his autograph I will kill you." She laughed and shook his hand. "So Edward I hear our lovely Bella showed you some of my handy work. Did you enjoy it?" I left them to talk as I went to find James but was unsuccessful.
I found them in a corner where Victoria was pointing up at the ceiling, "I don't even know what it looks like. Hey Bella, why don't you tell Edward here what you painted in the corner." I rolled my eyes and looked at the pillar I used to shimmy my way up there to paint it. "Edward let me borrow your jacket?" He slowly slid it off and handed it to me.
I tied the arms around my waist and then zipped it up around my legs and then began to climb the wall. I was so glad I wore boots that would let me climb the wall. I pulled out my cell and took a picture of my handy work. I showed him the picture when I got back down, "And yes that is really how I got up there to paint it. It was a very uncomfortable night.
After drinking way too much Edward and I walked back to Victoria's apartment because she lived closer to the club than me and we were both drunk. She and James slept in their room. Edward claimed the recliner which I immediately kicked him out of, so he ended up on the couch.
When I woke I could smell food being cooked which was odd because Victoria doesn't cook. When I went to the kitchen I saw Edward and James dancing around each other in the small kitchen. They looked like sardines in a can.
Edward turned from the stove and saw me watching them cook. "Hey, you hungry?" I looked at what was on the plate and nodded. I ate the fruit and bacon but pushed the toast around. "Do you not like my cooking?" "No Edward it isn't that, it's just I have never had, whatever you call this." He looked at me like I was weird, "This is what my family calls piggy in a blanket. It's just a fried egg in the middle of toast. I took the toast and ate it. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been.
After breakfast Victoria and I joked about our sexy cooks. Edward and I left to join the real word. After changing at my apartment Edward walked me to work. "So what do you think they have in store for you today?" I laughed, "I really don't care just as long as they are done fighting. I can't handle it when the fight about casting or money, especially at the same time." We said our goodbyes because Edward had to leave for two days.
THEY WERE THE LONGEST TWO DAYS EVER!
We talked and texted each other but it still wasn't the same as talking to him in person. I hung out with Ang while he was gone but she said I seemed really depressed. The whole time he was gone I had too much time to think about Nathaniel. I think Edward is the distraction I need to help get over the sadness.
I waited for him to call all day when he was due back, but he never called. Eric and Tyler got a call that someone wanted to meet with him about possibly donating a large sum of money to us with some strings attached. The meeting was being held after everyone left to keep it a secret.
I went home, took a shower, and got dressed in my comfy pajamas; flannel pants and a white tang top. I gave up on hearing from Edward because I was actually tired. I turned on the TV and sat on the couch just as my cell phone began to ring. I answered it, "Hey, have you eaten dinner yet?" "No, but I don't feel like going out anywhere. I am in my pajamas." The phone went dead.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on my door when I opened it there stood Edward with pizza and a movie. "Pizza and a movie sound good?" I opened the door for him to come in. He sat on the couch while I put the movie in the player. "So how was the plane ride?" He ran his hand through his hair, "Well it was great if you don't mind non-stop turbulence. How was work?"
I finished my piece of pizza, "Well, Tyler is still arguing with Eric but they had a meeting with someone this evening. Apparently someone has an immediate urge to donate to the arts. I just hope this person isn't a pain in my ass." He chuckled and then ate his pizza.
He rented Lone Star State of Mind, which has to be one of the funniest movies ever made, but that may be because one guy gets shot like three times by the same person. I hadn't seen this movie in almost two years so I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I must've fallen asleep before the end of the movie because when I woke up I was on the living room floor with Edward snoring right next to me.
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