This chapter, and all Edward chapters after it are firstly dedicated to Lupus who, not only has the same name as me, but is awesome and lives in London which makes this INFINITELY more easier to write. She gives me pointers, and confirmed the time difference between here and there. hah. This is my favourite chapter so far, but not of the story. Remember to vote on the poll, and leave me happy thoughts!
Chapter Four: Video Call
I woke up late, forcing myself out of bed. I had the day off from the office, but not from work. I'd be spending the next few days at home, reading various manuscripts and making notes. Later on, Emmett and I would get together and compare notes, before coming to a final decision. I slumped into my chair, wheeling out towards the computer and opened up my messenger. To be honest, the only reason I was at the computer was in hopes of Bella being online. I wanted to talk to her again. Over the past few months (it was now September) I had talked with her non stop. She was always home, and with my job it was easy to stay home.
I was attracted to her, that was for certain. Although I felt sort of silly to be feeling something like this for someone I couldn't really say I knew, I did. There was something there. With all of the conversations we had, going in depth on the smallest subjects, going off on numerous tangents, we spoke for hours at a time, and then rushed to finish our work. I hadn't been happier than when I was talking with her. She wasn't online when I first signed on, so I pulled on a sweater and slippers before grabbing my coffee mug and the parcel I had to send to her. I rode down the elevator, ignoring the stairs of my neighbours, due to my attire. Slippers and plaid pyjama pants weren't usual attire for a walk to the post office.
I stepped out into the lobby, taking another sip of my coffee as I hurried through the door and down the block to the post office. Inside I waited in a short line before paying for my package to be sent out. I was given a funny look, for it to be sent to America, but they noticed the name I'd written on the address and didn't ask any questions.
Mrs. Edward Cullen, I'd written, after one of our more humorous conversations.
Bella: Hey, you just getting in?
Edward: urgh. Yes. Emmett brought me out to some night club.
Bella: Ooh, meet your one true love yet?
Edward: Haha, of course. There was this one girl with some shoes. I fell on one knee and proclaimed my love for her. We're to be married on the morrow.
Bella: Haha, you're a freak. We're too bitter you and I, in our opinions of love. We're never finding anyone.
Edward: Well then it's settled. There's nothing left for the two of us to be married. we can clearly coexist in harmony, our opinions are very much the same.
Bella: If you insist. I won't try and stop you. Mr. Bella Swan will it be?
Edward: I rather like the sound of Mrs. Edward Cullen. Don't you?
After that I couldn't stop grinning and everytime we greeted each other it was with a joking 'Darling' or 'Honey'. I thanked the people and with another gulp from my mug, happily walked back to my flat.
Inside I heard the familiar alert noise to my messenger, and I am ashamed to say I ran full tilt to get to the computer. I tripped in an ottoman and fell to the floor in front of my chair. I pushed myself back up and plopped into the seat, happy to face the screen awaiting me.
Bella: Good afternoon, Mr. Cullen.
Edward: Good afternoon Mrs. Cullen!
Bella: Nope, it's still the am here. I just got up, 1o ish.
Edward: You beat me. I just got up and it is nearly two.
Bella: Lazy bum. I'm sad to say that I can't really talk today. I have a big order to fill.
Edward: I know what you mean. I have a few manuscripts to work through.
Bella: It's really sad, though, that I want to talk to you so bad.
Edward: You've got a webcam and microphone right? Let's take this virtual conversation to the next level of our relationship.
With that, I clicked the video call button. I could hear it waiting to connect, and then she must have accepted. A clear picture came through of a countertop and a few dishes, an oven and a window.
"Bella?" I called. "Why am I looking at a picture of your kitchen?"
I heard a faint voice yelling back. "I told you I just got up, I'm not ready!" Well goodness. When she said that I used my webcam as a mirror to fix my hair and sweater quickly, before I saw her shadow heading back into the room. I was anxious. This was the moment, while completely a spur, that I was going to see this woman I had been infatuated with for months. I would hear her voice and watch her movements. I would finally see her face and -- holy shit. She was gorgeous.
Bella sat in front of the camera, a nervous smile across her face. Her long brown hair was tumbling messily over her shoulders, clad in a grey t-shirt. Her eyes were big, and a dark brown. I knew, from a quick glance in my own corner that I was staring, open mouthed, too. Bella laughed slightly and I broke out of my daze, sitting up straighter we both let goofy smiles spread across our lips.
"Well, that's you and this is me," she said, motioning towards each of us. "Now, if you don't mind, I've got a couple of those specialty cakes of mine to fix." I saluted her with one of my manuscripts and she grimaced at the large piles of paper. I watched her for a moment as she hopped up and headed towards the cupboards, clad in pink plaid pyjama pants and her plain grey t. The two of us worked like that for hours. I listened as she forgot I was there and sang to herself as she mixed up the batter for cookies. Eventually she'd remember and apologise, but I just thought it was cute. Occasionally I'd have to read a part out loud, becoming so immersed in my work that I forgot Bella could be listening. Then, she started laughing.
"Do you have a problem with my reading?" I'd ask, without even looking up. She'd sit down in front of the camera then, so I could see her fully.
"No, I just think your accent is cute," she said, laughingly. That made me blush. With a groan I'd hide behind my papers while she laughed louder.
"Go back and bake your cake," I said. Bella shook her head.
"It's baking now. I suppose I should get that other one ready. And the icing. It's going to take a lot of work. I'll be sure to keep you entertained with my singing." I gave her a nod, grinned, and we both went back to work. It took her another hour to finish her second cake and bake it, and I'd finished half of my notes by then. We'd barely said a word, and I wouldn't admit it to anyone, but I could have finished my notes in that hour, I just spent most of it staring at her.
After another few hours had passed, I had finished all of my work, Bella had layered her two cakes and was nearly finished decorating one. I smiled, watching her. I was truly impressed by this woman. To become so completely and utterly infatuated with someone I had never seen an barely knew was completely out of character for me. But she was so... amazing. The way she spoke (wrote, technically) about everyday things, her opinions and views, it was so interesting and worthwhile to talk to her.
The added bonus, was that she was beautiful. Her voice, her face, her body... it was a wonderful gift, really, to be able to communicate with her. And, I had her to thank. I looked down at my very belated birthday gift and smiled.
She had been disappointed to learn that she'd missed my birthday, because of how long it took the bottle to arrive, but she sent me a gift anyway, in late august. I picked up the letter, hand written, snail mailed. She had written down a passage from one of her favourite books, and had left me a small note. Inside as well, was a picture of the most beautiful wedding cake I had ever seen. It was three layers, covered in white icing and drowned in the most intricate patterns of iced flowers and leaves. It blew my mind away. On the back were a few simple words that brightened my mood everytime I saw them. "The Cullen-Swan Wedding Cake." I stood up with the picture and walked out of my study to place it on the fridge with a magnet. it was the only thing there, aside from my grocery list and a picture of Emmett and I looking distressed in a mound of work.
I grabbed a bottle of water and ruffled up my hair again. I was please with how comfortable these pyjama's were. I probably wouldn't change all day.
As I sat down to my computer chair the phone rang. I picked it up and leaned back, glancing at the screen.
"Hello Emmett, I have missed you in the seven and a half hours we've been apart." I saw Bella's mouth quirk up in a grin.
"You're in an awfully good mood, and awake! I'm surprised, after last night," he said. I rolled my eyes. Bella caught it and laughed. "Hey now, you've got a lady there with you?! When'd you snag her? Bet you've been with her all night."
I looked up at Bella and she was staring at me from on her stool (the people who ordered that cake are insane. It's maybe five levels, all on those little pillars.), waiting for what I'd say next. I smiled at her. "Yeah Emmett, amazing for me to have a woman here, isn't it. I've been with her all night, and all day." Bella's jaw dropped as she hopped to the floor.
"Edward, you sly dog! I can't believe it," Emmett said, laughing. I could hear sounds from the street; he was on his way over. "I've finished my notes, and I'm assuming you have too, so I'm going to shoo that lady out so we can get this work done and have the rest of the weekend off, alright?"
"Okay mate, see you soon," I said, and promptly hung up.
"Edward!" Bella hissed. "I can't believe you said that to him. Now what are you going to do, say you were up all 'night and day' with a girl you met on the internet?"
"I didn't meet you on the internet, dear. You are my ocean goddess, remember?" I chuckled quietly as she turned a bright red and fidgeted uncomfortably. Without a word she spun around, hiking up the legs to her pyjama pants and stepped back onto her stool, taking her bag of icing to put the finishing touched on the wedding cake. I looked at the cupboard and found a three layered birthday cake, covered in chocolate icing with turquoise spots and swirls covering it.
"Bella, your work is amazing," I said softly. She smiled and put down the bag before stepping down and walking to join me.
"Thank you very much dear," she said, sitting perfectly in the camera's view for me. I'm pretty sure she saw the adoring look I had, staring at my screen. "Now, I have a more important question."
"Oh, and that would be?" I replied. Bella grinned and bit her lip sightly. Dear God that nearly drove me mad. I took in a deep breath and sat up straighter because of it.
"Where are we going on our honeymoon?" she asked innocently. I grinned widely, possibly bigger than I had since speaking with her.
"I was thinking a little flat in nice rainy London town. For... oh, I don't know... a few months? Years? What about you." She was smiling beautifully now too.
"As enticing as that offer is, all the travel would definitely make me sick, and I would probably die in London. Why not a little spot on the beach, near a big city for, oh... I don't know... a few months, years?" I smiled warmlyto her.
"Give me a couple months to clear everything up with work and my family, I'll be right there," I said, my tone serious. Oh, if only. Bella smiled to me, sweetly, and we stared at each other for a moment. Then, we both jumped when we heard the elevator door to my flat slide open. I held a finger to my lips and she nodded, watching intently. I minimized her window as Emmett came in, turning to greet him.
"Hello honey," I said in a mocking voice. He glared at me and merely stomped into my bedroom. I could hear him rustling my bed clothes around. "He's checking the sheets," I whispered to Bella who let out a short snort of laughter. Emmett came back out, checking the couch cushions and the kitchen counter tops. I was sure Bella could see everything.
"What are you looking for there?" I asked, referring to the places he was studying carefully.
"Suspicious activity," he said angrily. I turned slowly and gave the camera on my laptop a look before going back to Emmett. Bella was probably beet red.
"There are no signs of sexual activity on your bed, the couch or the countertop, no signs of anyone but yourself coming or going, no signs of any meals being made, aside from coffee, and i know you're an addict. You're the romantic type, you always make them breakfast, in bed or otherwise. All of these clues lead me to believe that you had no one here." Emmett was good, but I still had the advantage on him.
"You forgot to check the bathroom," I said simply, in a bored tone, and he took off running. I opened up Bella's window and saw her with her hands in her face, a bright red. "Sorry," I whispered. She looked up at me, a combination of embarrassment and amusement on her face.
"Will you make me breakfast in bed on our honeymoon?" She asked softly. I grinned.
"Everyday. Whether you're in bed, on the couch, on the countertop or in the bathtub. I'll make you breakfast everyday." Bella blushed again before giving me a small wave. I waved back and discreetly (I hope) pressed the print screen button, to save the picture of her later.
"I'll talk to you later, or tomorrow," she said. I nodded.
"Later on, then," I said and closed down the window, and my messenger.
I was smiling widely when Emmett came back in, glaring at me menacingly. He threw down his messenger back and moved to the kitchen quickly to make some coffee.
"I don't know why you look so content, Ed. You, unlike some people I know didn't get any last night. Why are you so happy?" I leaned back in my chair, my hands behind my head as I looked at my best friend, thinking about the one secret I'd ever kept from him.
Softly, I said; "I met someone."
EEK! Wait till you find out what her birthday gift is! I'm excitedd!!