Sorry it took me so long!! I just wanted to get this chapter right. I'd played it out so many times in my mind that I had to have it perfect. I also felt this scene deserved 2 parts so part 2 will be up shortly. Hopefully it makes up for the angsty chapters I put you through.I'll catch you at the bottom…
EPOV
I stood in silence as Bella told Esme she loved me. If there were actual words in the English language that could express the amount of emotion I felt at that moment, I don't think it would have been enough.
Before tonight there really hadn't been any reason in my life. I just simply got up in the morning, went to classes, ate, slept. The same monotonous routine that I did over and over again. I carried on with the things in life that I was nonetheless obligated to do. And although I had loved Bella through the years, it up until now served to no fulfillment. But now it was different…my life had meaning.
And as I glanced back into the room I couldn't help but smile as I gazed at my reason.
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BPOV
"I thought it was funny" Alice shrugged as she returned her gaze to the windshield.
"It was definitely not." I said propping my feet up against the dashboard. "None of what Emmett did last night was funny."
It was 5:30 in the morning and we were driving back into Forks from the Cullen's house. Alice had a fitting with some client at nine so I prompted we'd leave as soon as possible. I didn't want to even think about what breakfast would be like with Emmett's unnecessary comments.
My eyes drifted to the white streets as thoughts of Edward lingered in my mind. The roads were already starting to clear up and the taunting heat of Forks was beginning its usual circulation. I sighed as I realized that my usual routine was also about to resume. My talk with Esme, although encouraging, had done little for my situation. I was still harboring love for my best friend and he still didn't know.
I was about to comment on Alice's terrible driving when my phone vibrated. Taking it out of my back pocket, I couldn't help but frown at the caller id. It was a text from Edward. And as I flipped through my phone, I noticed I had several missed phone calls from him too.
"Who is it?" Alice called as she took in my expression.
"Um…Edward…he's been trying to call all morning. I think my phone was on silent though."
"That's weird. I thought you guys weren't talking. What does he want?" she said while switching lanes.
"I don't know it just says to call him ASAP." I shrugged, sinking back into my seat. My mind raked through the many possibilities. I was excited and nervous. Whatever it was it had to be important enough to cause him to call so many times.
"Well, are you going to call him back." Alice asked through wide eyes.
"Yah" I blushed as I dialed his number. Almost immediately a sharp tone filled my ears.
"No service." I said, throwing the phone in the console. "I'll call him when we get back." I yawned and closed my eyes. I clearly did not have the energy to ponder Edward's behavior this early in the morning.
"Right, I'll just drive the next two hours in silence while you sleep. Go ahead, don't worry about me", Alice said sarcastically as I nuzzled deeper into the plush seats of her yellow Porsche.
"Shhh" I said drowning out the sounds of her voice and focusing on the rhythmic drum of the road. I was out within seconds.
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EPOV
I frantically checked my watch for the third time. My hands began to hurt from drumming against the countertops as I waited for Jasper to get out of the shower.
"Jasper, come on!!!" I said pounding on the door.
"I'll be out in a minute Cullen! Chill out!!" he screamed back.
I flipped my phone open and searched through the call history. Still nothing.
"Five minutes!!!!" I yelled before hopping out the door and into my car.
I was so anxious and nervous that I couldn't think straight. Even though the dashboard read 6 a.m., I couldn't help but feel as though time was running out.
I think it had been for a while.
I pulled my phone out and called her again.
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BPOV
Stretching my arms, I slowly opened my eyes to the bright light that was trickling through my window.
I quickly glanced at the time. It was a little over 9:00. I barely remembered tripping up the stairs to the apartment or slumping down into my bed as soon as I had gotten the door open.
I glanced out my window before I made my way into the kitchen. Sure enough, Forks had returned to its normal blazing self within hours. It always killed me how strange the weather worked here. What you thought was a sunny day was always just the calm before the storm. It was funny how closely life also seemed to work in that way.
Before I could decide what I wanted for breakfast, my phone began to beep.
I stood in shock as I opened it.
37 missed calls. 18 text messages. All from Edward.
Crap. I panicked as I remembered I had forgotten to call him back. Quickly dialing his number, I plopped onto the couch and brushed my fingers through my hair.
I frowned as it immediately went to voicemail. I tried his house phone, but to no avail. Slowly panic was creeping in as all the scenarios bombarded my head. Why had he called so many times and why wasn't he answering his phone now? What if something had happened?
Hey it's Edward. Here comes the beep, you know what to do.
I quickly began talking once the initial beep of the message machine signaled.
"Hey Edward, it's Bella. Sorry it took me so long to call you back. We had no service and then I fell asleep…Please call me and tell me everything is okay." I trailed on..
I glanced out the window one last time before wrapping up the message.
"You know what I'll uh…. just come over. My car is in the shop so I'll have to jog over there but it shouldn't take me long. I'll be there in fifteen."
Pressing the off button, I ran into my room to throw on a pair of yoga pants and light jacket. After locking the door and leaving a message for Alice, I quickly began my jog to Edward's.
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EPOV
"Damn traffic!" I said as we finally wheeled into the entrance of my apartment complex. My phone had eventually died from calling Bella so many times and I was beginning to think my revelation had come a little to late.
"Edward it's like 9:00 in the morning. Bella is probably sleeping like I should be" whined Jasper from the passenger seat.
"Yah maybe." I said climbing out of the car, "I'll see you later."
Jasper lived two doors down from me so I didn't bother giving him any other sort of formal goodbye.
As soon as I walked into the apartment I flew to the flashing message machine. Breathing a sigh of relief, I pushed play and listened to the message Bella had left not even ten minutes prior.
"Hey Edward, it's Bella. Sorry it took me so long to call you back. We had no service and then I fell asleep…Please call me and tell me everything is okay."
There was a long pause.
"You know what I'll uh….just come over. My car is in the shop so I'll have to jog over there but it shouldn't take me long. I'll be there in fifteen."
My heart sped as I glanced at the kitchen clock. 9:08.
Seven more minutes I thought as I pulled my shirt over my head. I was getting sweaty just anticipating seeing her.
I would confess my true love in a matter of minutes…in a matter of seven short minutes.
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BPOV
This had better be important, I thought as I sprinted through the rain. Sure enough, five minutes into my run, it had started to down pour. Squinting, I turned the corner that marked the last two streets until Edward's apartment complex.
I was tired and drenched and scared out of my mind.
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EPOV
I almost ran to the door when I heard a soft knock. Rolling my eyes, I sighed once I realized who it was.
"What Lauren" I snapped as a familiar pair of bright blue eyes looked up at me.
"Well that's some hefty greeting." She said pushing her way through the door.
I did not have time for this.
"I'm sorry Lauren, but this is a really bad time." I frowned as I thought about what I had said. "In fact, it is always going to be a bad time." I amended, " I told you six months ago that I had no feelings for you, yet here you are...again."
I know I was being an ass but I couldn't help it. I was tired of random girls thinking they had some sort of hold on me and showing up at awkward times. It was beyond irritating. And this was Lauren's third visit.
"Ouch," she said rolling her eyes, " I actually just came here for our project disc. No need to get testy." She flashed me one of her dirty smiles and licked her lips as her eyes wondered up and down my chest. Disgusting.
"Alright, then you're gone." I said, rummaging through my bag.
But my hands froze as another soft knock caressed the door.
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BPOV
Dripping wet, I made it to Edward's apartment. I pulled my jacket off over my head and leaned it against the railing.
The door finally opened and I was face to face with him. His hair was in it's usual disheveled mess and his chest was bare revealing his usual toned abs. It didn't seem like anything was wrong with him. In fact, he looked completely fine.
"Hey," I said out of breath. "What's wrong?"
"Bella your soaked." He said grabbing my arm and pulling me into his apartment.
"Yah… it was raining." I said frowning as my eyes trailed to the skinny blonde in the room.
"What did you want?" I said suddenly furious. This was the second time I had walked in on him with another girl and it was doing just wonders for my self-esteem.
"I wanted to talk to you." He said, running his hands through his hair. He looked nervous.
"Really?" I said incredulously as my eyebrows raised towards her direction. Here I was, actually thinking something had happened to him, and here he was obviously having fun with Ms. Barbie . It also didn't help that he was without a shirt with said Barbie.
"Eddie, I'll see you later," the blonde whispered wedging her way through us. When I heard the door slam shut, my eyes darted back to his.
"Eddie?" I said rolling my eyes. I slumped down on his couch to try and remove my shoes. I didn't even care that I was getting his suede love seat wet. I was beyond pissed.
"What's wrong with you?" He said inching towards me.
"Nothing." I said while struggling to get my shoe off. Arguing with him was pointless. He didn't get it. And I was beginning to think he never would.
"Bella, we need to talk. I can't keep doing this," he said bending down on his knees so that he was eye level with me. I broke from his gaze and continued trying to untie my soaked shoestrings.
"Doing what?" I spat as my hands endlessly fumbled through the knots that entangled the laces. Frustration curled through my body as I tugged and pulled. Not only was I fighting tears, but my sanity was also at risk of slipping through the tight seams I had tied it in.
Suddenly I felt Edward's hand swat at mine as he raised my leg to his knee and effortlessly pulled my shoe off. I couldn't help but to stare at his muscular hands as he worked on the second one. I could feel his eyes on me but I refused to look at him. His hands were doing a fine job enticing me on their own. Adding his piercing eyes to that would have only sent me further into his crippling trance and for some reason I wanted to stay angry. Just this once.
"Bella look at me." He sighed after a few seconds.
"You cant keep doing what?" I asked nervously, still staring at his hands.
"Pretending." He said, lifting my chin so that I was forced to look into his amber eyes. It bothered me that I couldn't figure out what I saw in them.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about Bella," he said suddenly positioning himself onto his feet so that he was hovering right over me. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"No I don't Edward," I said standing up. "I don't understand anything about you lately."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that one minute your kissing me and then the next minute Tanya…and now Lauren." I screamed so fast that I didn't even notice I was dancing dangerously close to the thin line I'd created between best friends and lovers-- or whatever it was that lied on the other end. I was mad and he was oblivious. And I was breaking.
"What are you talking about" he said cocking his head to the side, " I didn't kiss Tanya…or Lauren for that matter."
"I saw you kiss Tanya at Heather's party and Lauren was just over here," I said shaking my head.
"Nooo" he said stepping closer to me. "What you saw was Tanya shoving her drunken tongue down my throat."
"It doesn't matter," I said looking away.
"Yes it does matter," he said advancing still, "and if I'm not mistaken, you were also pretty busy at the party grinding on Mr. Smiles ."
He took yet another step closer to me, causing my back to bump against the wall in retreat. I shivered as his body heat curled around my soaked clothing.
"You don't know what you're talking about" I said through gritted teeth.
"And neither do you."
I could tell he was getting angrier by the minute and as much as I wanted to return the anger, I couldn't help fall victim to the wave of hurt that passed through my body.
For a minute there was nothing but silence. He stared at me breathing heavily and I did the same.
Suddenly, I couldn't take it anymore.
"It didn't mean anything to you, did it?" I whispered as traitorous tears spilled down my face. As soon as the words came out, I regretted them. Because this was it. After waiting fifteen painful years, this was it. The road was coming to a cold stop. And although I was relieved that I was removing myself from this ride, I began to wonder if coasting in neutral would have been the better option as I watched his expression do a complete 180.
I didn't have to wait long before his lips crashed down on mine. My breathing hitched as his body pinned me further against the wall. Indulging in his body heat, I entangled my hands in his hair and I could feel my waist singe under his warm chest. His tongue slipped through my lips causing a soft moan to part into his.
I slowly pulled away. I honestly didn't think I'd have the strength to, but the idea of this just being a repeat of my birthday sent my rational in overdrive. I needed to know how he felt. Kissing obviously didn't hold the same universal meaning I once thought it did.
"What are you-" I tried to say but was immediately sucked back into the pleasure of his lips as they grasped hungrily at mine.
"Edward, what does this mea-" I tried again.
This time it was his hands wrapping about my lower calf, hiking it around his waist that interrupted my train of thought.
"It means that I'm in love with you Isabella Swan" he said through cracked lips.
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Okay there you go!! I'm not sure if part 2 will contain a lemon, but it definitely won't disappoint. Review and tell me what you think!
