The familiar hum of the elevator calmed me as the doors slid closed. My hands moved restlessly about. Into my pockets, fixing my hair, playing with my purse, they would not be still. The bell chimed and the doors slid open. I paused before exiting. This was it; I had to take the first step.
As usual the lights in the hallway were off so the light from the office down the hall cast long shadows. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator before the doors could close on me. My heels did not make any noise on the carpet so I could hear small sounds one usually doesn't notice. The shuffle of papers, the audible 'thunk' of someone hitting their head soon followed by a string of profanities, Jake hadn't changed.
I peeked in his office and saw him sitting on the floor next to his desk. His hand rubbed the back of his head and his eyes were closed in frustration. I felt my smile and mustered some nonexistent confidence.
"You should be wearing your helmet, it might be safer," I spoke in a light tone. I was not at all sure how happy Jake would be to see me. He glanced up with his big chocolate eyes and smiled slightly before he registered who I was.
"You know, generally girls tell me I'm hard-headed, but a metal desk definitely disagrees." He looked weary of my presence, but not openly hostile. His eyes seemed more guarded than I remembered.
"What are you doing down there anyway?" I took another step into the office. Jake fluidly slid onto his knees and then to his feet. My neck craned back to keep his face in view.
"I was checking the Ethernet connection under my desk and I didn't slide back enough to clear the edge when I went to get up. The desk caught me right across the occipital lobe." He wrinkled his nose in displeasure as his hand probed his scalp again. I felt my hands begin to fidget again as the awkward small talk melted away. "So how have you been Bells?" His hands crammed into the pockets of his dress pants. I blushed trying to come up with a witty and light answer that will keep the mood friendly.
"You know me, falling down, getting up, getting better, and learning to walk again, the whole kit and caboodle." He nodded thoughtfully.
"So what's up? Is there something wrong with your computer?" He shifted to put his desk between us and avoided looking at my face. My stomach lurched at the sight of his professional poker face and polite tone.
"I just wanted to come and see you. I was about to leave for lunch, would you care to join me?" I infused as much confidence as possible in my sentence and sincerely hoped he wouldn't turn me down since there was not enough for a second try. He plopped down into his computer chair and drummer his fingers on the cold surface in front of him. He pursed his lips and looked me in the eye for once.
"No, I'm all set." His tone lost its amiable tone as I saw the pent up frustration in his eyes. Their dark brown depths still looked pained.
"Oh, ok." I forced my voice not to quiver with hurt at his rejection. His gaze softened a little as he watched me calm myself but he did not retract his words. I lifted my hand in a goodbye gesture and quietly left the office. I could feel him watching me walk away until the elevator closed around me. I pressed my cheek against the cool metal wall and took a few calming breaths. I had forgotten how much I missed Jake, but it was his decision to forgive or not.
The doors opened and I walked out into the chilly fall air. The wind found its way through the weave of my sweater and I shivered slightly. The overcast weather mirrored my mood and I lost the urge to go out to lunch. Instead I took the bus to Edward's apartment.
The stairs seemed to never end as I put one foot in front of the other. No matter how hard I tried to push Jake into the back of my mind I felt the sting of his rejection. With only a half flight between me and my destination I noticed a strange sound. I immediately dismissed it as Edward playing a strange CD or something. Tuesday was his day off from practice so I would come back from work to find him doing strange things with his free time.
Once when I surprised him I came in on him 'conducting' a Symphony Orchestra wearing just his boxers and a tuxedo coat. I nearly coughed up a lung from laughing so hard. The genre of music was similar again so I prepared myself for hilarity despite my bad mood. I slid the key that Edward had given me two weeks prior into the lock and turned it.
Music flooded the hallway and I was left stupefied in the door. Edward sat on a beautiful black glossy bench next to a baby grand piano and the wonderful sounds were pouring from his finger tips. One more rope attaching my heart to Edward Cullen was tied as I watched his fingers gracefully dance along the keys.
As the notes drifted away my heart thudded painfully in my chest to have lost the sound. Edward straightened and I heard a few vertebrae pop back into place. His right hand ran through his copper locks and I watched the muscles dance in his arm. Something dripped onto my hand. I looked down and was surprised to find my shirt damp with tears.
I must have made some type of sound because Edward whirled around to see who was watching him. He smiled at me until he noticed the tears. Silently he stood and came towards me. I dropped my purse and kicked the door shut before meeting him halfway. His hands cupped my face and mine curled around his neck to pull him closer.
"Are you alright?" His thumbs wiped the tears from my eyes. I leaned forward and rubbed my lips on his.
"I am now. That was the most beautiful music, your piano came!" I poured all my awe into another kiss.
"Thank you and yes it did." He gave me a crooked grin and grabbed my hand. He tugged me towards the piano bench with him. We sat down with Edward to the right and me to the left. He began playing again. This time it was a lilting melody. My head rested on his shoulder as he played. My fingers itched to create such a sound, but they did not know the intricate dance that Edward's had mastered.
"How can you play without music?" I mused softly as the song drifted to an end.
"I wrote it." He blushed slightly and peeked at me through his lush lashes. My heart swelled to see his modesty. I kissed his cheek.
"It's the most beautiful song. What's it called?" A hint of mischief sparked in Edward's eyes.
"I can't tell you." I removed my head from his shoulder.
"Why not?" I wasn't upset but my raging curiosity had caught hold.
"It's a surprise." I frowned in response. "So why were you upset?" It was my turn to blush.
"Well two reasons actually." I stood from the bench and moved into the kitchen area. I opened the fridge and rummaged for something to eat. I felt more than heard Edward move up behind me.
"And they are?" His breath tickled my ear and I felt my muscles clench with hope.
"One was that beautiful song you were playing. It moved me." I glanced back to smile at him but I found myself caught in his gaze. He spun my body around so I was facing him but I was trapped against the open refrigerator door. The contrast was amazing. The cold air from the refrigerator and the furnace that was Edward had my mind spinning.
"And the second?" He intentionally invaded my space causing my breath to catch. His breath caressed my neck and I felt Goosebumps rise in invitation. His elegant nose traced a line up my neck tipping my head back. I almost fell into the fridge as I lost my footing. His arms came around me and I snapped out of his intoxicating presence.
"It was nothing." I replied slightly breathy. I turned around again and grabbed a container of cantaloupe and cottage cheese to eat. Edward pursed his lips but let me move to sit down.
I fished a fork from a drawer and slid onto a stool at the counter. Edward found a few ingredients and proceeded to cook them into some concoction of deliciousness never previously known to man.
"So, since my step-sister's wedding is in two weeks I really need to get a nice dress. Do you have a suit already?" I popped a piece of cantaloupe into my mouth waiting for his response.
"Yeah, I have something I can wear." His wrist jerked the frying pan in his hand flipping its contents and catching them again.
"Ok, I have to go shopping with Alice this weekend to find something. I don't suppose you're interested in coming?" I smirked at him. His eyes flashed to mine and he chuckled.
"As much as I love my sister, I will never go through such an ordeal with her again. I have reached my quota." Skillfully the food was plopped onto a plate and Edward grabbed a fork. He sat on the stool next to be and we ate for a few minutes in compatible silence.
"So, is there anything I should be warned of about meeting your family?" I tapped my lip thinking. He was most likely going to cause some type of scene at my family gathering, but I did not know what I needed to prepare him for.
"It's mostly improvisation. My family is unique enough that there are new horrors each time you see them. Just be weary of my step sister."
"Why?" I felt blood rush to my face yet again as I thought about the past.
"James was my boyfriend when she decided she wanted him. That's actually why we broke up. I caught him in bed with her. And things just haven't been very easy between us since." I shrugged away the past pain as if I didn't really care. Edward put his fork down and spun me around so he could see my face.
"I will never do that to you." His eyes burned with rage and I could only nod in response.
"I know." I caressed his cheek and his eyes softened. "But that doesn't mean she won't try."
"She's getting married." Edward's brows creased together in confusion.
"I know, but you are one hot piece of man." I smiled and winked at him. His smile turned predatory in an instant.
OOOOOOOOoo
"So Bella, what color dress are you looking for?" Alice and I stood at the entrance of a store. We hadn't actually entered yet since Alice wanted a game plan ahead of time. I chewed my lip thoughtfully.
"What color do you think would say 'I am hot, I have a hot boyfriend, and I am not jealous of you in the least'?" Alice grinned.
"That would be red, but I don't think that is the message you want to convey." Her musical voice rang out her laughter and I grinned back. Perhaps I still have a bit of pent up frustration with my family.
"Ok, then what should I say?"
"Well I think it should be more subtle. Such as 'I am Isabella Swan, big shot news journalist with a hot boyfriend but I am happy for you for finding some small scrap of happiness compared to me.'" I burst out laughing.
"Subtle, I get it."
"Good afternoon ladies, how may I be of service?" An elegantly dressed older woman asked us as soon as the front door closed.
"We are looking for a dress for a wedding and it needs to be perfect." Alice started to walk the perimeter of the store while the clerk and I trailed behind.
After four hours and three stores we found something. It was perfect.
OOOOOOoo
My feet ached horribly by the time I reached my apartment. The stairs had just served to torture me more than Alice had all afternoon. Damn her and her Yoga-laties. It was not fair how much energy she was allotted in one day was more than a normal person would use in a week. As soon as my door was shut I kicked off my shoes into the linen closet. My arches were protesting with each step but I made my way to my bedroom to hang up my dress. I made sure that it hung perfectly straight so it would not wrinkle.
Maurice twined around my ankles until I flopped onto my bed. He jumped up and spread out along my side immediately. My eye lids felt as if they were made of lead so I let them slid closed, just for a minute.
I woke up an hour later with cat hair in my mouth and a sheet print on my face. I glanced at the clock when I came back into consciousness only to be hit by a wave of adrenaline. I needed to go see Charlie. I bounced off the bed to the bathroom to brush my hair. I rubbed both of my cheeks with my hands trying to make the sheet print leave or disguise it.
I glanced over to where my phone sat on the table by my bed. An idea struck me. If Edward had to meet the bad side of my family, the least I could do was introduce him to Charlie. I grabbed my phone and flipped it open before sitting on the edge of my comforter.
The list of names in my contacts was extensive but I was too lazy to type out Edward's name. Instead I scrolled down to Cullen, and on the way I saw Black. I immediately dropped my phone on the floor as if I had been bitten. Humiliation and frustration crashed over me. Humiliation at having been rejected by my friend and frustration that yet again I had forgotten about him. While I was with Edward all else melted away, and now I was not so sure that was a good thing.
I swiped my cell as I walked into the kitchen for a quick bite to eat. I pressed 'send' between bites.
"Hey there," his voice weakened my flimsy resolve.
"Hi you. I was wondering if you felt up to meeting Charlie with me tonight." I pressed my back against the counter and bit my lip for his response.
"Really? You want me to meet Charlie?" He sounded utterly surprised as if he was caught completely off guard. There was a prickle along my hairline about his tone.
"Yeah silly, I would rather you meet the sane family members before the crazy ones." He paused a moment too long. "You don't have to come Edward. I'm not trying to pressure you." Anger began to replace unease. He had technically met Charlie already, why was this a big deal? I just wanted Charlie to know that we were together. Who know Edward Cullen had a flaw.
"No, Bella, that's not it. I mean…" He seemed to be at a loss for words. My nostrils flared when I heard him sigh.
"No Edward, it is perfectly fine. I will see you tomorrow."
"You aren't coming over tonight?" I gave my cell phone a sarcastic face.
"So it would seem." I flipped my phone shut and dropped my face into my hands. Why was he being so unreasonable? It is not a big step. I had met his parents; did he not want to meet mine? My heart was beating a mile a minute in my chest. Slowly I lowered myself into a crouch. Was I not a serious girlfriend to Edward Cullen?