Chapter 20
BPOV
We exited the auditorium in complete awe. The play was even better than I imagined. Edward held my hand the entire time and on occasion would sing in my ear the love songs between Raul and Christine, giving me goose bumps.
Rose, Alice, and I were lighter than air, having been with amazing guys, guys who willingly sat with us through an entire romantic play, and instead of complaining chose to whisper the words of love in our ears.
We made our way to the elevator, snatching one that all of us could fit in, and rode our way to the floor of their rooms.
At the door the girls and I chatted about our favorite scene while the boys opened the doors to their suits.
I flung myself onto the chair beside the bed throwing my arm over my head, completely exhausted after the day's events.
"Why don't the three of you stay the night with the boys? I don't think I would be able to bear having you three ladies on the road at this time by your selves." Esme told us.
"Mom whether they went or not, they wouldn't be alone. You know very well that we would not… feel comfortable with them leaving to go home by them selves." Jasper replied with care. I noticed that he almost stumbled over his words, about to say something that clearly could have caused trouble.
Edward pulled me up, so that he would be able to sit on the chair with me in his lap.
"Besides," he began, "After spending one night with her, I don't think I could ever spend another away. I would be going whether I drove her or not." I cuddled into his chest, loving how much he cared about me and for me.
"Alright then," Carlisle started, "Just please promise not to get into any trouble."
We nodded with a smile, a few yawns escaping, and they retreated out the door.
"Well I am exhausted, Em, do you have a shirt I can wear? And where are we sleeping?" Rose asked. Emmett motioned for her to follow him into the adjoining room.
Jasper sat up and moved to a large suitcase on the floor and began digging through his things. He came up with a overly large t-shirt and tossed it gently to Alice, "Here you can sleep in this if you like?" she giggled and ran with the shirt into the bathroom. He smiled adoringly after her.
I turned my head to Edward's, "So do I get a shirt, or will I have to sleep in this dress? Which I know will only be the death of me due to Alice killing me for pulling a stunt like that, leaving only my underwear"
"Well as much as I would like to see you in your underwear, I don't really want Jasper seeing you in your underwear-
"Nor do I really want to see you in your underwear. No offense Bells, but I'll stick with admiring Alice."
I giggled; slightly embarrassed that he had heard our conversation.
Edward lifted me off of his lap and sat me on the edge of the near-by bed and moved to his suitcase on the floor. Bending over he provided a view I rarely was able to see, but loved getting the opportunity.
Giggling behind me snapped me out of my trance. I whipped around to find Alice in a large t-shirt that displayed a bands name on the front. She pranced over to where I was sitting and whispered in my ear, "Enjoy the view?"
Embarrassed at having been caught, yet unable to lie, I nodded, creating more giggles from Alice.
Edward stood a t-shirt and shorts in hand, with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing," I replied, turning even more red than before.
He handed me the shirt and I went into the bathroom after Jasper finished.
I put on the t-shirt to find that I came to my upper thigh and unfolded the shorts to find that they were in fact boxers. Hmm, I thought, so he's a boxer guy. I put the boxers on and headed out of the bathroom to find a hanger in which to place the dress on.
I walked back into the bedroom to find Alice and Jasper cuddled together on the bed closer to the wall and Edward lying propped up against the head board on the bed closer to the window, one hand on the remote the other behind his head.
"Where are Emmett and Rose?" I asked not having seen or heard from the couple in a while.
I received shrugs from the others and therefore decided to take a peak into the other room. What I found was so adorable and slightly funny I almost fell into laughter.
"Guys come look at this. Alice grab the camera." I whispered to them, waving my hand for them to follow me.
Alice took a picture of the couple, as both of us tried to prevent our laughter.
Rose was curled up like a cat in Emmett's side, wearing a long t-shirt that was riding high up on her leg. Emmett however took up the entire bed, lying spread eagle on the mattress, the blankets tossed uselessly to the side. A loud snore ripped through the room, emanating from Emmett. I tip-toed over to the two, grabbed a corner of the blanket and covered as much of them as I could. I shut off the light on the bedside table and exited the room, shutting the door behind me.
I moved to the bed where Edward sat waiting. Alice and Jasper were cuddled together on their bed, arms around the other. I climbed on the bed and wrapped my arms around Edward's waist.
I was so comfortable it caused me to dream of never having to let go, but unfortunately with the two of us living in two different states at the moment, letting go seemed inevitable.
"What are we going to do when you have to go back?" I asked so quietly I wondered if he heard.
He was silent for so long that I thought I never voiced my fears, but he spoke into the quiet, "I don't know. I…I want…I wonder, maybe…" he seemed so nervous. I had never heard him stumble over his words before.
"Yes? What is it?"
"What if I moved here? I can transfer to the college in Anchorage and I could still be able to see you."
"But they don't have your degree program do they?" I asked. "Besides I don't want you to give up your dream just for me that is totally stupid."
"No it's not. I love you and I don't want to have to leave you. I haven't actually looked into the schools so I don't know what they offer, but as long as I get to be near you I could care less."
"But that's not fair to you. Your life is in Washington, what about your family? Would you and could you seriously leave them?"
He was silent for a moment.
"I didn't think so….You know what it doesn't really matter; we will worry about it when the time comes."
"No, it does matter. I want to figure this out so that I can be with you."
I sighed. I knew that until the matter was solved his stubborn side would not allow him to forget it.
"What if we moved to you?" I asked, an idea forming.
"But that's not fair to you all. You all have jobs that are here, friends and family here, no as gentlemen we can't ask that of you girls."
"But I'm offering. Just hear me out. Carmen and Eleazer have thought about expanding the program opening other branches in other locations, to become more renowned and also possible earning more money, if the girls and I were to move closer to where you three were that possibility could come to life. And technically we have no family here. Carmen and Eleazer are more like family friends, not biological relatives."
"But-"
"Wait. We could move, because our jobs allow it. Therefore it will allow each of you to keep your jobs and continue schooling. Also you will be able to stay closer to your parents. So we would have jobs, you would have your jobs, you can stay with your parents, and in the end all of us will still be together."
"But you are still picking up and leaving everything you have. 'Family' whether biological or not, friends, your home." He said ticking off with his fingers, "Didn't you girls grow up here?"
"Actually no, we moved here. Technically we were…well Rose was born in California, Alice was born in New York, and I was born in Italy, hence the reason for my name. After our parents died, we moved around with Rose's modeling, then met Kate and her family so we moved here to settle down. It was rather an interesting childhood. Anyways, the only real tie we have to any thing is this town, but it is not a very strong tie, since we didn't move until after are parents died, it's not like this is our home town or anything. So we could move, as you said 'as long as we are together we're happy."
He chuckled, "Okay, if and I emphasize if you move closer to us, I'm still not keen on the idea of you having to pick up and move everything, what are you going to do about a house?"
"Buy one," I said, "Isn't that obvious?"
"There are not an over abundance of houses available. Besides even if you do find one what are you going to do about a training center for the dogs?"
"Edward you underestimate us, particularly Alice, she's good at this kind of thing. Besides we have your mom and Carmen, they especially are not going to let us live on the streets waiting for a house, not that you would either, but you are just being to pessimistic, have faith."
He smiled gently, "Okay. So it's settled you are moving closer to us."
"Good. Now I am exhausted, let's go to sleep."
He chuckled, "Yes ma'am,"
I curled into his side and held him close, glad to have finalized ideas for our future.
***
My sleep was peaceful that night, filled with dreams of the future, Edward and mine in particular. It started with wedding bells, morphing to us with children running around, and finishing with Edward and I on a porch swing hand in hand old and grey with age.
I awoke to find Edward smiling down on me.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," I replied.
"I hear that our future is bright," he smirked, mischievousness in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.
"Well I believe you mentioned an annoying wedding gown, then something about 'Anthony don't run', then it turned into you asking me how it was possible that I could and I quote 'Still look so damn sexy old'."
My blush increased its shade with every word spoken. He chuckled in response, "Don't worry love, I like your ideas and would like even better to see them come to life."
Beep, beep, beep
The alarm clock on the bed stand began its annoying chime, officially waking me up, and also causing Alice and Jasper to rouse from sleep.
I jumped off the bed, making Edward groan in frustration, and bounced semi-gracefully over to my sisters' bed. Gaining my balance I jumped onto the bed and began bouncing animatedly up and down next to Alice.
Jasper let out a low groan, while Edward snickered from the other bed.
"Love, why is your sister disturbing our sleep by jumping on us?" he asked his voice still thick with sleep.
Alice giggled, as she was fully awake, "Because I do it to her all the time, now, I'm only assuming here, because she was up before I was, she decided to pay me back for every time I do the same to her. Am I right?" she asked turning to me, her face turned up in a large grin.
I nodded my head in excited agreement, "You dish it out, be prepared to have it dished back!" I stated laughing.
"Yes but do you have to take it out on me too?" Jasper asked suppressing a groan.
I laughed heartily and climbed off the bed.
"Time to get up!" I sang to the room. I glanced at Edward to find him smiling gently at me, still lying on the bed.
"May I ask why you are so hyper this morning? Isn't that my job?" Alice asked with slight suspicion laced in her tone.
"I don't know," I answered with a shrug. "I guess I'm just in a good mood."
I noticed Alice glance between Edward and I with a curious glint in her eye, but it was over before I could ask about it.
Alice bounced out of the bed to my side, "Well what are we going to do about clothes?"
"I don't know," I replied.
Edward turned to the two of us, "Would you be willing to wear some of our clothes? Or at least a shirt that belongs to us and you could wear the pants that you wore yesterday, at least until we get you back to your house."
I shrugged my shoulders, "Sounds good to me," I turned to Alice who looked slightly appalled, her face calculating a way to get out of wearing something she wore the day before.
"Humph," she grumbled, "I see no way out of it so I guess I will have to."
I chuckled at her response, "Maybe you could ask someone to make you feel better about wearing the same pants you wore the day before," I asked suggestively, nodding toward smirking Jasper who was still comfortable on the bed.
Alice grinned widely and bounced back toward the bed. I grabbed Edward's hand from behind me, "We are going to have to hurry, otherwise we might see things that siblings are not meant to."
He laughed quietly and pulled me over to his suitcase.
After going through it for a moment I selected a t-shirt, grabbed my jeans off of the floor and made my way to the bathroom.
I quickly changed and washed my face, brushing my hair and teeth
Edward entered the bathroom as soon as I exited. I went over to my discarded clothes and dress and placed them on top of Edward's suitcase.
Edward came up behind me and took my hand, placing his clothes next to where I had just laid my own.
"I think I kind of like seeing your clothes next to mine," Edward whispered quietly, as we glanced down at the bulging luggage bag.
"Come love, let's get something to eat."
With my hand in his we headed out the door almost colliding with Emmett and Rosalie.
"Hey guys," Edward stated.
"Sleep well?" I asked.
"Amazingly," Rosalie answered.
"Let's go eat I'm starving," came Emmett's booming voice, causing the rest of us to laugh at his blunt nature.
The four of us made our way to the near-by elevators and descended to the main floor. We circled the floor to locate a restaurant of sorts.
"What if we go to the place the mom and dad took us?" Edward asked looking over at his enormous brother.
"Sounds good," he replied. The guys led us over to a delicate eatery where a hostess was standing with menus in her possession.
"How many?" she asked politely after our approach.
"Just four…well two more may join us later, but for now just four." Edward answered, his smile causing the girl's eyes to glaze over. I cocked my eyebrow and tightened my grip on Edward, clearing my throat.
The girl started out of her daze and blushed lightly looking down. She grabbed another menu and turned away showing us to our seats. Behind me Rose and Emmett snickered at my obvious display of 'claiming'. Edward simply looked smug.
At the table, after being seated, Edward leaned close to my ear, "Are we jealous love?"
"Not jealous, 'because I know she can't have you. Just making my claim known." He chuckled at my response and kissed me lightly on the nose.
Throughout breakfast we held hands, occasionally stealing kisses. When we weren't showing affection, and Rose and Emmett were not to busy with each other either, the four of us talked about the events of yesterday.
After about 45 minutes, Alice and Jasper entered the restaurant.
"Nice of you to grace us with your presence," Rose smirked. Alice replied with an adult attitude by sticking out her tongue. I rolled my eyes at their silly antics.
In the middle of a break between conversations, Edward nudged my arm, "Should we tell them our idea?" he asked.
I looked around the table to find four pairs of curious eyes glancing between the two of us.
"What idea?" Emmett voiced.
"Um..." I started, "Well, Edward and I were talking last night about…well our future arrangements," every face took on disappointment at having to think about the future without the other, "We seem to agree that we can't be separated." The faces lightened at the idea that as a group we all could still be together.
"What if Alice, Rose, and I moved to Washington, to live closer to you guys?" I paused waiting to hear any voices of dislike, when none came I continued.
"You see, Carmen and Eleazer have voiced that they would like the idea of expansion. If we move to Washington, most likely to an area where skiing and snowboarding and what- not occur, we could make that dream happen, and in the meantime we would still be able to spend time with the guys. The only problem is we would have to locate and or build a training facility and a house. So…what do you think?"
"Hell yes!" came Emmett's excited reply.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea, and if you girls have to build a house, I'm sure our parents would have no problems with you living with us until it's finished." Jasper eloquently voiced.
Alice was bouncing on her stool, "That is a fantastic idea Bella!"
"I like it. It may be hard to have to redo our house and a training center, but if it has to be done, we are the best choice to do it." Rosalie answered.
I smiled widely, "Great, well then we might want to start the planning and preparations."
***
A/n: I know it seems very 'uppity' and a little too 'happy-go-lucky', but I am trying to end the story soon. I don't want to create any conflict, but I don't want to end the story to fast, so I am just focusing on the couples and how the get closer together. Sorry if you want more drama but I don't want any more.