Here I am sitting in the driveway outside my house trying to figure out a way to not let Edward know about my little lapse in judge. If he finds out it will not be good for either Alice or I it seems. This is all so complicated because it is not like I can just turn around and go back to Port Angelese and take care of things. For one, Edward is going to be back any minute and if I am still gone there will be questions when I get back. The fewer questions there are the better.
Leave it to me to find the one paternally driven vampire in the world, but oh my, is he a cute one. Since leaving little room for discussion about my soon to be return trip to Port A is of the upmost importance, I have to have a plausible story. Too bad taking a trip to the bigger town with human friends wasn't that believable. Wait, maybe it can be since I am on the committee to decorate for the upcoming Top Ten Banquet.
For once Edward's incessant demand to make my life normal and complete' with all the rights of academic passage crossed off, might just prove to be useful. Lauren and I are that committee from student council. Even if lover boy may not like it, going to Port Angelese for decorations is completely necessary. Granted I will have to be nice and probably shop, but I can gag my way through it and take care of my little indiscretion.
Quickly before I lose my nerve, I dial my cell phone for Ms. Lauren, and wouldn't you know it, but the call goes to voice mail. Well, ok put on my sweet Bella voice and prepare to enter ditz land.
"Hi Lauren, sorry I missed you, but since we are on the banquet decorating committee, I was thinking we needed to head to Port A to get some decoration. This has to be done soon so call me and let me know when we can take care of this. Oh, by the way I also have to run a little errand to take care of something, so I hope you won't mind. Later Bella."
I pat my back jean pocket where my recent speeding slash seat beat ticket is hiding. I have to remember to put this in my purse. The last thing I need is for Edward to find it, and I will feel so much better when the fine is paid and this citation is burned. I smile to myself thinking that this is one time when fire destruction is a good thing.
My ringing cell phone brings me back to reality as I flip it open and say, "Hello."
"Hey baby girl," a velvety voice hums in my ear, "I'm home."
"Great," I sigh, "I missed you."
"I missed you as well," Edward breathes, "I will be over to see you soon and get my car. Oh and isn't Charlie working a late shift tonight?"
"Ah yeah," I respond feeling a little confused, "he is covering Murdock's shift since he sprained his ankle, why?"
"No reason, love," purrs my man, "I was just looking forward to spending some uninterrupted quality time with my fiance. Okay?"
Smiling to myself I say, "No problemo, senor, you can spend all the time with me you want." Tonight though needs to be one with few words because I don't want to let the wrong one slip. I am not a good fibber so the less said the better.
"Great," he said, "I will be there in a flash. Oh, do you have any idea what is up with the pixie? When we came home, I heard her mind sing the alphabet song while planning your graduation party."
"No idea," I squeak. "Maybe she just wants to make sure you don't spoil my surprise at that party."
"Maybe," he trails off, "but I think something more is going on. Never mind though I just want to get over to your house to see my girl. Be there soon."
I immediately start fidgeting because Edward the bloodhound is already trying to find out what is up. This is not good. Definitely need to make sure that talking is kept to a minimum. My mouth is just not good at keeping secrets, even though this is a necessary one. I don't want to stress my hot vamp with my little oversight today. Nothing happened so the less he knows the better.
While deep in thought, I feel a pair of icy lips tenderly kiss right behind my ear. Talk about being quiet as a mouse, I didn't even hear him come in. "Hi baby," he whispers as I feel my insides turn to jello. "I'm back."
"That you are," I stumble with my words. "Ahhhh how was hunting?"
"Great," he continues in that low husky voice his. You know death by Edward talking would not be such bad way to go. "I actually enjoyed the guy time."
"You need guy time, you know," I gasp. I have to try to think even if he is dazzling me by just being himself.
My cell phone intrudes into our little cocoon, but I see that Lauren is returning my call. Show time, please God don't let me screw up now. I swear if you let me get through this that I will be the best driver, seat belt wearer ever.
Flipping my phone open on the last ring, I try to politely say, "Hi."
"Hi Beeeelllaaa," Lauren chants. Can't this girl ever talk like a normal person I wonder while I inadvertently roll my eyes and hear Edward stifle a chuckle. "I see you called. Want to take care of that decoration shopping tomorrow?"
Sighing in total relief since pulling my little deception off might just work, I respond with a very cheerful, "Absolutely, sounds great."
"Since we are going to the Port, we like have to shop for banquet outfits, right. I mean we are seniors and have a reputation to uphold," Lauren babbles.
"Ah of course, we can do a little shopping," I agree. Remember all bad deeds have some kind of penitence to do. If clothes shopping with Lauren, the human version of Alice minus the cute personality, is my type of hail Mary for telling a white lie then so be it.
"Yeah, cool," she continues, "and we will go to that little Italian restaurant that is so good. And what is your errand that you mentioned?"
I jump a little as my man places his cool chin on my shoulder. Vampire hearing is not a welcomed ability when trying to hide something. I feel his arms tighten around my waist as I catch his brow furrow as I am sure he is wondering what my little errand is as well.
"Oh it is no biggie," I talk quickly, "I just have to take care of a bill that I forgot to pay. Yes, even Bella Swan forgets things from time to time." Stop rambling Bella, even Edward knows it is a big signal for me being up to something. The spider is so right when saying, 'Oh what a tangle web we weave..."
"Ok," giggles the annoying girl. "It is nice to know that perfect Beelllla messes up too. So will going right after school work for you? I mean I want to get there ASAP so we can do some real shopping. You know what I mean?"
"Works for me," I say thinking that this web is starting to become immobilizing. I feel a headache beginning just as I spy Edward pinching the bridge of his nose which means it times to get him thinking of other things. All the while my subconscious is repeating the mantra never again, never again, just be safe.
"Great," sings Lauren, "catch ya tomorrow."
"Will do, bye"
I can hear Edward begin to growl low in his chest. Definitely not a good sign I think as I turn in his arms. Ok lets put operation seduce into action. I wrap my arms around his neck and begin to play at his nape with his little ringlets of hair there. His soft moan tells me he is beginning to relax. Yes this will work I begin to will into being.
His moan turns into a quiet whisper in my ear, "Bella I can tell you are up to something. Want to tell me?"
"I am not up to anything Edward," I kiss at his collar bone trying to distract him. FYI distracting a vampire is like trying to get a canine to leave the scent of a rare bloody steak behind. I feel him pull me closer and slide his hands into my back jean pockets. What the heck is that crinkling noise I wonder. Oh no the ticket.
That memory is followed by Edward taking the folded tissue warrant out of my pocket which I try to grab out of his hand. Second FYI, humans can never grab anything from a vampire, and I see my fate being held prisoner in his hand as he unfolds it to read.
"Oh Edward there is my bill I need to pay," I smile. "Silly me forgot to do that in my haste to get that book for my paper in English. Really I am just so daffy lately..."
"Isabella Marie Swan don't say another word," Edward commands as his darkened irises reveal his anger.
"But really Edward it is my thing to take care of..."
"I said not another word," his steely voice whispers. In that one flash I realize the jig is up and my fate is sealed.
Not knowing what else to do I look at the floor. I really need to sweep some dust bunnies up. I then feel Edward's index finger placing pressure under my chin and forcing me to look up
"Bella I am really disappointed with you right now," he says. His displeasure is evident on his face. "I really thought our discussion the other day would prove incentive enough to straight up and be a safe. Obviously I was mistaken, but mark my word young lady, you will be finding that I will indeed make good on what I promised."
"Edward come on," I whine, "nothing happened."
"This time but your luck is not always going hold out, and I am not going to give you another chance to temp fate. It would seem that you have earned the spanking I am going to give you for more than one reason."
"Just what is that supposed to mean," I spat.
"I'd watch that attitude little girl because your list of misdeeds are climbing," he retorts.
Rolling my eyes, I unconsciencously stomp my foot, petulantly saying, "Really Edward I didn't pay attention and committed a few teenage offenses. It is not like I robbed a bank nor is it like anything really happened."
"Something did happen, actually many things seemed to happen. You were speeding, not wearing your seat belt, and worst of all you lied to me."
"But I well I didn't ah," searched for words to complete my thought. "I didn't lie either. I just didn't tell you." Suddenly my logic was anything but logical.
"So trying to make me think that you were going to Port Angelese with Lauren to get decoration and pay a bill you forgot was not intended to mislead me," he states.
"I really wasn't expecting you to hear all that," I mumble. "I can't help it if you have super hearing."
"Yes, or no, Bella. Were you intending on telling me at some point that your bill was really two traffic tickets," he blatantly spoke.
I bite my lip because saying yes would be a bold face lie while no was not the truth I wanted to admit either. Those dust bunnies on the floor are really beginning to be a cute little distraction.
"Just as I thought," he says to himself. "Isabella Swan go to your room and wait for me. I want to think a little and calm down before we have our talk. By the way you can prepare yourself for not one but two spankings."
"What?" I scream. I really didn't mean to say that so loud but he caught me off guard. I have never been spanked in my life once let a lone twice. "This is not fair Edward," I screech like a spoiled five year old. As if having an out of body experience, I can't help but wonder if that ranting voice was mine but the swift turn of my body followed by two sharp swats from Edwards solid hand brought me back to a very warm but unpleasant reality.
Edward laughs the most maniacal sound I have heard to be followed the coldest voice ever. "This is not a question of being fair, naughty girl, it is about safety and truth. Two lessons you need to learn and I am going to be sure and teach you tonight. Now march straight to your room and put your nose in the corner and think about how you got to this point."
One last glance at my soon to be husband confirms what the slight stinging in my bottom was predicting. Edward was no longer pleading for me to behave he was telling me too. The glacial stare of his face left no room for argument as I ran up to my room like a freshly caught and naughty, little girl.
