OK don't get spoiled the next chapter could take a while.
"I know I've talked to her on the phone but what if she doesn't like me? I've never met the parents before. I knew my first boyfriend through his parents and nobody else was important enough." He titled his head at me, "What about Jacob?" "Well he said both of his parents were dead but it could have been a lie like everything else." He kissed my right temple. "Don't worry your anxiety is normal, but she'll love you if only because you make me happy." I punched him in the ribs, "And apparently you will get along perfectly with my sisters."
I stopped him just as I saw the cameras. "Before we face 'the public' how do I look?" He tucked my hair behind my ear, "Like cousin It." I hit him with my carry on bag. "No seriously you look amazing like always." I pushed him away and walked towards the luggage belt, "You are biased." "Nope just under your spell." "Cause that's so much better."
The cameras were flashing and recording from the moment they saw us until we got in the cab. I was in aw from the beauty of the city. Nearly everyone has seen pictures of London but they don't even come close to the real beauty. Edward was laughing at me stare at all the historical buildings, and I didn't even care enough to pay him any attention.
We pulled up to a enormous mansion with a wrought iron gate and got out. It didn't matter that Edward was standing right beside me because I was petrified. "I don't know if I can do it." He grabbed my arms and dragged me to the front door. "If I remember correctly this was your idea." "Yeah well some ideas are better left unfulfilled."
Just as he reached for the door knob his mom appeared and began choking him. "Oh Edward I missed you so much! You can't stay away that long ever again." He had to pry his mom off of him. "I agree mom. Now I would like you to meet Bella."
I stood back and waited for her reaction. Imagine my surprise when she pulled me into a hug. "Welcome Bella!" I exhaled, "Thanks Mrs. Cullen." She finally released me, "Oh please call me Esme." I nodded and smiled at her. She took our suitcases from us and out them in front hall way.
"Honey the kids are here!" Edward's dad came running down the stairs looking flustered. "Hey guys… I would love to hang around and talk but I have to go to work." Before anyone could say a word he was gone. "Bella that was Edward's father, just call him Carlisle. Edward I set up your room and the guest bedroom if you need both. Tanya and Kate will be over for dinner so you have plenty of time to get settled in."
We took our stuff up stairs, "So do you want the guest room?" I sighed, "Want, no, feel obligated to use, yeah." He smiled, "Ok." Then he led me to the guest room and dropped both of our suitcases then laid down on the bed. "Aren't you going to you old room?" "Nope." I gave up and laid down next to him.
I got woken up by a person jumping on the bed. "Wake up Eddie! Mom and dad are ready to eat. Oh sorry Bella, I'm Tanya." I shook her hand, "Nice to meet you." She giggled and walked away. "I get the feeling that I'm gonna get along great with Tanya." He sighed, "Just wait till you meet Kate."
We cleaned up a little before we went down for dinner. Everybody was sitting around a long dinner table. "Bella Edward told me you aren't a picky eater so I made lasagna and salad. I hope that's ok." I ran my hand through my hair, "That sounds great."
We sat around the table and ate while I listened to all the family stories. I saw a picture hanging on the wall of Edward in a school uniform and he looked so cute as a kid but he was covered in mud. "Can someone explain that picture to me?" Tanya pointed at Victoria, "You get to tell this one."
She finished her glass of wine before she spoke. "That was Edwards first day at our school and when people found he was our little brother they picked on him. He got pushed into a mud puddle during break and they had to call mom and come get him. The joke was on the bullies because Edward hated those clothes and just played in the mud. They call it my story because a week later I was dating the boy who pushed him in the mud."
After dinner I made plans to hangout with Tanya and Kate the day and then went to bed. Edward and I had just laid down when his mother knocked on the door. "Sweetheart why are you guys in the guest room?" I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. "Bella didn't want… She just is having a really bad headache." "Oh well good night." Once the door was closed I was laughing, "Nice cover." Then we went to sleep.
I fell asleep as soon my embarrassment subsided, however my slumber only lasted until 4am. I tried to fall back asleep but I was too awake, so I went to look around the house.
I stopped at the only door open in the hallway, which was Edward's bedroom. I looked around and saw pictures of him in school uniforms, playing his guitar, and the piano. I turned on his small TV and watched some late night comedy show that just didn't seem funny to me.
After 7:30 Esme was standing in the doorway watching me, "Jetlag?" I nodded, "Would you like to help me make breakfast?" I stood, "Lead the way." By asking for help what Esme really meant was come watch me make breakfast and answer all of my questions.
She asked me about everything, my past, my plans for the future, about me and Edward, and my family. She was asking me questions that Edward wouldn't even know the answers to. "Do you think you and Edward are serious?" "Mom, stop! You're gonna scare her away." Saved by Edward, he leaned down and kissed me, "Thanks." He responded with another kiss.
After breakfast Tanya and Kate showed up to take me away. "Promise me you will come back." I kissed Edward one last time before I left, "I already suffered through breakfast alone with your mom it can't get much worse, right?" He laughed as I walked out the door.
We spent the entire day walking around and shopping. They told me more stories that Edward would have never told me and I told them about how we met. Tanya almost died when she heard about the guys on the subway, while Kate applauded me. "That's what did it, you know. He knew at that moment that you could handle his chaotic world."
After hours of mind numbing shopping they left me to deal with their mother again. "Don't let her get to you. Treat her like the guys on the subway, she's out to get you just show her that you won't put up with it." "Thanks but I really don't think knocking her out with a glass bottle will help her like me. Well thanks for the shopping trip." They both hugged me and then left me to walk into the house alone.
Once inside the house she began with her interrogation again, "Ok Bella I just have one more question, for now." She pulled out a magazine and laid it on the coffee table in front of her, "What happened here? Edward says it was nothing but you ended up in the hospital and now you're dating my son. Not to mention all of the rumors that went along with these pictures and his father can't even get a straight answer out of him about it?" It was from Nathaniel's funeral and the ambulance was called to take me to the hospital, and we never really cleared that mess up it just kind of went away.
"Well Esme, I already told you how we first met. This happened after our first official date. While at dinner I got a call from the hospital. Long story short my brother was killed. I hadn't heard from Edward since that night, not that I blamed him I would have run away too. But he showed up at the funeral. I was already having a breakdown when he came over to me. Once I saw him I think my brain just had an overload because I passed out. Someone got a picture of me in the ambulance with Edward standing there and ran with what they thought happened." "MOM! I said to drop it!"
I had never seen Edward so upset not even when Jacob crabbed me. He went up stairs really pissed off, we both gave him a moment to calm down, "I'm sorry, he asked me to stop but I don't always listen to my children. I stopped her, "Esme he is your son, you worry about him and with everyone knowing who he is and all the benefits he has you should worry about the people around him. It's ok. Let me go talk to him."
I went to the guest room and he was pacing back and fourth pulling his hair. "Bella I am so sorry. She just doesn't know when to stop. I told her the story was crap but she just… I'm sorry." I waited for him to stop and sit down, "Are you finished?" "Yeah." I rubbed his back, "Good. Now will you please listen? Your mother worries about you, I get it cause mine does the same thing, you'll see. I really don't mind that she wanted to know what happened that day. Besides only a handful of people know what really happened and it is way better for her to be one of them."
He leaned against me forcing me to lie down on the bed and I laughed as he tickled me, "Edward, you need to stop." His attack just got worse the more I tried to resist it. I was laughing so hard I had several tears streaming down my face. If it wouldn't have been for his dad knocking on the door saying dinner was ready he probably wouldn't have stopped until I pissed myself.
The next day was spent with Edward going to see all the tourist attractions. I knew he was bored out of his mind and he tried to hide under his ridiculous hoodie. Esme eventually stopped asking questions but Carlisle was never really around.
The day before we were leaving I convinced Edward to show me the places of his past. Edward showed me all the schools he went to, where his mother got him a job as a paper boy, and the first theatre him and his dad bought.
That night after everyone else went to bed I couldn't sleep but Carlisle was in the kitchen and scared me. "Sorry Bella I didn't mean to scare you." I tried to catch my breath from being scared, "No you're fine, I just can't sleep." "Would you care to join me on a walk?" I nodded, "Sure."
Neither of us spoke until we were at least half a block away from the house. "I apologize that we haven't had a chance to talk while you were here." I understood he seemed really busy with work, "No it's fine you were busy." Then I saw where Edward got the nervous habit of pulling his hair because Carlisle did it too.
"Although we haven't spent much time together I want you to know I did get to know you in my own way. I'm very observant and I use it to my advantage. I don't need to talk to you to figure you out like Esme. You are a good genuine person and my son is lucky to have met you. You're kind hearted, but don't put up with others shit. You two are really good for each other. From what I can tell you both compliment each other by covering the others faults." With the end of his speech we were back at the house. Carlisle went straight to bed while I thought about what he had said.
I hadn't even thought he liked me or noticed me but he was just getting to know me in his own way. Then I went to bed and was truly happy I joined Carlisle in the walk. It was more insightful than any of the conversations with anyone else on this whole trip.
I was half dead as we walked though the airport and I was just ready to be in my bed. The flight home was awful; the turbulence was never ending. Edward gathered our suitcases while I was still in a sleep deprived state. As soon as we got outside people were taking pictures and asking questions. "Bella did you and Edward join the mile high club?" I don't even know who asked it but I only had strength enough to flip them all off.
We decided to go to Edward's apartment since it was closer to the airport than mine. I barely made it upstairs and to his couch before I crashed. "Bella if you don't get up I'm gonna leave you here on the couch." I just rolled over and ignored him.
The next morning I woke up still on the couch with a stiff neck. "Hey did you enjoy the couch?" I threw a pillow at him, "I just enjoyed sleeping all night long." He handed me a coffee mug. "Here I got this for you." I took a sip and nearly died, "Oh my love I missed you so much!" "I am so jealous that you love your Irish crème coffee more than me." I got up and kissed him, "Don't. I'd give up my coffee for you anytime."
"Hey I'm gonna take a shower real fast I still smell like an airplane. " he stepped out from behind the kitchen wall, "You need any help?" "NO! I said a quick shower." After my shower we took my stuff to my place and to go see Ang. Surprisingly she was sitting on the ground in front of my door.
"I just couldn't wait to see you!" She knocked all of my bags out of my hands, "Well if you don't calm down you're gonna break you souvenirs." She immediately stopped hugging me. As soon as we got inside I unpacked looking for her stuff. I got her some chocolate, a peasant shirt that she would love, and a stupid snow globe from the airport because she collects that shit.
"Oh I love all of it thanks." Edward was doing something in my room and yelled from down the hall, "Ang be careful of the chocolate it is really different than chocolate here." She just rolled here eyes.
Ang and Edward sat around watching TV while I did my laundry. I had my head in a dryer when I heard Ang screaming, I ran in there. "What happened?" Edward was rolling around on the floor laughing and Ang was just pointing at the TV, "Ang what?" She rewound the tivo and showed me and Edward coming out of the airport late last night. All the showed was me flipping them off. "Oh my God, they could have at least owned up to what they asked!" "Bella what did they ask?" Edward stopped laughing and sat up, "They asked her if we joined the mile high club."
We all sat there for a while before it tore her apart, "Well did you?" I smacked her upside the head, "Ang I won't even use those bathrooms what would make you think I would do that in them." She conceded and let it go. To make up for insulting me she made all of us dinner. I love when Ang cooks because she is so much better at cooking than me.
After dinner there was a knock on the door. Edward answered to find Jasper and Alice waiting. "Eddie come on let's go out and party." He looked back at me. "Edward go. I have to work tomorrow and I'm tired so just go." I could tell he was about to say no, so I threw his jacket at him, "Go have fun." He turned and kissed me before he left.
I finished my laundry after him and Ang left and went to bed. Even though I had a full nights sleep before I still felt exhausted. As I laid in my bed I thought about Edward leaving for LA in two days and how we weren't sure when he would be back.
I woke the next morning feeling fully charged and ready for my day to begin but that was before I actually got to work. Tyler and Eric where arguing and it was worse than normal. They were actually screaming and yelling at each other. I stepped in to stop it before someone said or did something that they would one day regret.
I pushed Tyler into my office, "What the hell is going on?" He scared the hell out of me when he yelled because Tyler never yells at me and it was a thunderous sound. "Fucking Eric just told me he sold the theatre. And on top of that the company who bought it only bought it so they could shut us down."
I suddenly had an urge to go in there and beat up Eric myself but relaxed and tried to calm Tyler down even more. "Tyler I know you're mad but if it's done it's done. There's not much you can do about it now." He took a deep breath and walked away. I gathered all of my stuff and went to talk to Eric.
"Eric how long do we have?" He sat at his desk and looked up at me with sorrow in his eyes, "A week." I felt my stomach drop, "What do you need me to do?" He just shook his head, "Call our supporters and inform them and that's it." I bit my bottom lip and left the room.
After I called everyone and informed them I went back to his office, "It's done. All my stuff is packed up so I'm out of here. If you need anything let me know." I walked out of the office carrying my stuff and said a small goodbye to Tyler.
When I got home I dropped my box next to my door and began to start some feeble household chores. I really hate cleaning my apartment which is why I try to not to let it get messy, but Edward has made that more difficult lately. He is one of the messiest people I have ever me. I guess that is just a typical man thing because my mom says the same about my dad.
After I got home from London I did do my laundry but I never put it away so I did that and tried to forget about the theatre. I decided to cook a nice dinner for me and Edward with all of my free time. He told me he would be here around 6 so I had three hours to get prepared. I settled on steak, salad, and baked potatoes.
After eating and telling him about work we agreed it would be a perfectly fine choice to go drinking with Jasper and Alice. Jasper wasn't playing tonight because it was karaoke night so we went to enjoy to awful singers ruin great songs.
"Bella you have to get up and sing. I've never heard you." Alice was driving me crazy and wouldn't leave me alone. "No, I don't care if you haven't heard me I'm not singing tonight." Since it was pointless to argue with me they turned their attention to Edward. He neither agreed to sing nor said no.
Thanks to Jasper we drank way too much, but that tends to happen when you get the drinks at a discount. Everything he ordered was half off except for beer from the tap which he got for free. I was never a big beer drinker but that changed for the night.
Six beers into the night Jasper got up to sing a song. He sang Dominated Love Slave by Green Day it was hilarious. After he got done singing he announced, "Now she is going to kill me but Alice get up here and sing.
She dragged her feet and took her time getting up to the stage and Jasper chose her song for her, he picked You Picked Me by A Fine Frenzy. Alice's voice wasn't bad at all but she never really sang she more talked the song. I had heard her sing loud and proud in the car and she had a great voice but she was acting shy which she wasn't.
As expected she came back to our table carrying the microphone, "Bella dear it's your turn." Instead of arguing for an hour I just caved and went to choose my poison, Be Be Your Love by Rachael Yamagata. It never really mattered how much I drink singing in public would always make me sick. As soon as I was done Edward was waiting to take over the stage and whispered to me, "I thought I would save you from forcing me to get up here." I gave him a quick kiss before I walked back to our table.
Edward took forever to pick a song I wasn't even paying attention until I heard the first words, "All my bags are packed I'm ready to go." I ignored everyone around me as Edward sang Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver. I felt like he was singing to me. As soon as he finished he grabbed my hand and we left.
"Bella why don't you come with me tomorrow? You can meet some of the people I hang out with there and get to see LA. Not to mention be with me. Come on come with me." I only took his suggestion seriously for about half a second. "Edward as good as that sounds, I can't. I need to start looking for another job eventually my saving will run out and…" "I understand." He looked like a kid that didn't get what he wanted on Christmas morning.
I pulled him into a hug, "I really would like to go with you but it just isn't a good time." He kissed the top of my head, "I know…Well I need to go finish packing." And with that he was gone. As soon as he was gone I felt cold and alone but there was nothing I could about it. I decided to go to bed since I would have a long day tomorrow.
The next morning I woke up to a cup of coffee and a note next to my bed. I drank the coffee as I read what Edward wrote.
Bella. Enjoy the coffee. Stopped to say goodbye but you looked too peaceful. I'll call when I land. Even though I am writing this with you next to me I already miss you. Edward.
I printed a bunch of resumes and filled out applications from the internet. I love how nearly everything is just a click away. I filled out everything from secretary to McDonalds just trying to find anything. As I walked out of Hobby Lobby my phone rang.
When I answered it I expected it to be Edward but it was a giggling Victoria. "Bella, you're gonna love me!" "That would depend, what did you do?" She had to be running by all the noise she was making, "Can you meet me at Wing King in ten minutes?" "Yeah, see you then." When I walked in the door she was already there with a man in a smoky grey suit.
"Bella this is Mr. Laurent. He runs an online art gallery along with several other galleries around the world. Mr. Laurent this is my friend Bella I was telling you about, so now I will leave you two to talk." I sat in her now empty chair across from this man. "Well I'm the clueless one here."
He nodded at me, "Well as she said, I run and online art gallery. It is fairly easy to operate however I am far too busy to deal with. I also have several other art galleries which I am very involved in. The thing is I need someone to operate the website. As you can guess I'm not too good with technology. Victoria told me you would be perfect. It pays $350 a week plus 10% of any sales and it can be done from anywhere you get an internet connection. Are you interested?"
I though for sure Victoria was playing a sick joke but she never jumped out to yell "Got ya!" Right after I agreed he pull out his laptop and we spent three hours going over my duties and responsibilities. The job was easy enough I had to keep the page updated regularly and keep up with the invoices. All the pieces online would be for sale but also for sale in the other galleries, so I would need to check all shipping for the online gallery. The best part was it really could be done from anywhere.
I was so wrapped up in the joys of my new job I missed Edward's call. I tried to call him back but I got his voice mail. I sent him a text to call me for some great news. I took Victoria out for a thank you dinner, but Edward never called me back. I gave up and went to bed figuring he was just too busy to call. He not only had to meet with his office but he had several client meetings to attend as well.
It was weird to not have a real reason to get up the next morning. After making a real breakfast and talking to Ang on the phone Tyler showed up at my door. "So those of us who worked at the theatre are getting together for a farewell dinner/party tomorrow. I thought you might want to join us." I agreed to meet them at Chili's for dinner.
I checked my phone after Tyler left and still nothing from Edward. I called him and no answer so I called Jasper. He hadn't heard from him either, I was upset but I was sure he would call sooner or later. I checked the website and tried to figure out how I would change it. He wanted it to be changed in two days and he e-mailed me all the stuff I needed to change.
I grabbed my laptop and went to the coffee shop to work and hang with Ang. "Girl I can't believe you're that lucky. You have a job that you're gonna love and it's easy for you. Not to mention you get paid every week even if you don't have to do anything." She was watching me change the home page and add music to it. I chose Technologic by Daft Punk because the majority of the art works were modern pieces.
I was deep in concentration when my cell rang I answered it without looking at the name. "Hello?" "Hey sorry I didn't call you back I was busy. What's the good news?" "Oh…. Hold on one sec I'm almost done…Ok now what?" He laughed at me, "Your good news." "Oh yeah I got a job." "That's great!" "Yeah it's pretty easy and more than I made at the theatre and I get commission." "Wait, what exactly are you going to be doing. You won't be at a bar every night, right?" I giggled at him, "No. I will be running an online art gallery. I set up the website and am in charge of shipping any purchased art pieces." He sighed, "Ok that sounds like a good job." Look I'm sorry but I have to go but I promise to call you later."
I sat at the table waiting for something to happen. I was bored and had nothing to do. Ang and Victoria were working and Edward was gone. I packed up my computer and called Alice. "Hey girl. I heard about your job. Congrats." "Thanks. I was wondering if you're doing anything right now." "Actually I was gonna go to the flea market, would you like to come? Jasper hates it so I'll be all alone." I smiled glad I found something to do, "Where do you want to meet?" She sighed, "I'm ten minutes from your place, see ya there."
I got home with just enough time to drop off my computer and go back outside, Alice was honking the horn of a black pick up that just didn't seem to fit her. "You drive a truck?" She laughed, "No, this is Austin's truck. I borrow it every time I go to the flea market. My car can't hold everything I buy."
We spent the rest of the day at the flea market together. Alice bought several pieces of furniture but she tricked a group of guys into loading them into the truck. I found a few things to buy but nothing too big except for a life sized cut out of the Ultimate Warrior, who happens to be my dad's favorite wrestler. I thought it would be a nice ice breaker when he actually gets to meet Edward.
I ate a bowl of cereal for dinner and watched Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio. It was getting really good where Romeo fights Juliet's cousin and then my cell rang. "Hey." He sighed and sounded really tired. "Hey, I really miss you. I want to get on a plane and come back right now."
It made me feel good that he missed me. "Well my dad has us filming a new movie and he wants me to be really involved, but I might tell him no." "Why?" "Well the filming is in Brazil and I don't speak anything but English and also because I would be gone for 5 months there and 2 more in LA. I just don't want to be stuck somewhere for that long."
I really wanted to smack him for being stupid. "How about you tell your dad maybe and you think about it." After 5 minutes of silence he agreed to think about it. He said he would be back the tomorrow. After we got off the phone I went to bed without finishing the movie.
I didn't really do anything the next day but I went grocery shopping for when Edward was do back. When I got home Edward was sleeping on the couch. I put the groceries away and then sat on the floor in front of him. I watched TV until he woke up to the That 70's Show. "I didn't know Jackie ever smoked pot in the circle." I turned around and kissed him, "Everyone joined the circle even the parents do in one episode. But they eat space cakes instead of smoking it." He pulled me against him, "Damn Bella I missed you so fucking much." I laid my head down on his chest, "Now don't go getting all clingy on me Mr. Cullen."
"Edward did you think about the job?" he nodded, "I have and my dad agrees to a few things and if I can persuade someone else of some things I will do it." I was afraid to know who that someone was but the curiosity was killing me, "And who is someone?"
He gave me a devilish smile that I have come to love and he began tickling me. "Guess!" "Stop… tickling…me…PLEASE!" After my face was as red as it could get and I felt like I would wet myself he stopped. "Ok I know the who but what must you convince me of?" he played with a strand of my hair. "To come and visit me a lot. That is if you can get the time off." I rubbed his nose with mine, "You silly man of course I would love to visit you. Also my work won't be a problem because I can do it from anywhere." "Ok then it's settled but let's not make any plans, we'll play it by ear. However I went to meet your father before I whisk you off to Brazil."
I grabbed my cell off the table and called dad. "Hey when would you be able to come visit?"... "Really?"... "Ok I can't wait."… "Love you too dad." I turned to Edward, "He will be here for a wrestling show tomorrow with his friend Billy and he planned on stopping to see me so you will get your wish."
The next day I was a little worried for Edward because my dad can strike fear into somebody by just looking at them because of his size. His life ambition was to become a professional wrestler, so as you would imagine he is huge and compared to him Edward would look like a twig, but so does everybody else.
My dad showed up around 7 and I made his favorite for dinner, chicken quesadillas with cheesy French fries, weird I know. Dad didn't even knock before he came in my apartment which is my fault for giving him a spare key. "How nice of you to knock." He shrugged, "It's nice to see that I didn't interrupt anything." I rolled my eyes at him before I went in for a hug. "It's nice to see that your mind is always in the gutter, still. Now if you think you can behave long enough there is someone I would like for you to meet." He stuck his arm out for me to lead the way.
Edward was in the dinning room setting the table when we came in, "Dad this is Edward, Edward this is my dad, Charlie." He stuck out his hand, "Sir." I elbowed my dad in the stomach when he didn't shake it at first. Finally after they sat and started to talk they both seemed to relax. We ate dinner and they both talked about noting important mostly sports that I pay not attention to.
Dad stayed until he would be late for the wrestling show and we walked him to the door, "Oh dad before you leave, we have something for you." I went to the closet down the hall and pulled out the cut out of the Ultimate Warrior. "Holy shit! Where did you get this?" I smiled at Edward, "I found it at a flea market with Edward's friend Alice." He kissed me on top of the head and carried it out to his car and then left.
I sighed and flopped myself down on the couch and Edward sat down with me. "Ok so now we are even, both of us have the others family." He laughed at me, "Yeah well I'm glad it is over with. However I am very tired." I yawned at the same time he said tired, "Me too. Are you gonna stay here or go to your place?" "Stay since I will probably fall asleep on the way home."
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